Band Of The Week #243 - As December Falls
This week’s Band of the Week is Nottingham’s very own champions of pop-punk superstars As December Falls - who have just released their new album ‘Join The Club’.
A record of great importance for the band, the lead-up for “Join The Club” has seen As December Falls win Best Breakthrough at Heavy Music Awards 2023, make their debut performance at Download Festival and announce their biggest headline tour yet - 20 dates across the UK & EU.
Speaking on the release of “Join The Club”, Bethany Hunter says “This album is everything to us, it honestly almost feels like our debut album as it's the first time we've managed to achieve the exact vision of what we have for As December Falls. There's not a single track on the record that I think we could have made better and I'm so proud of this body of work. Even if we don't chart and don't hit 'industry goals' the fan's reactions have made all the hard work worth it. If anything else comes out of it, it's a bonus at this point."
They took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey there As December Falls - how are you? So your album is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
Hey there!! It feels awesome, we’ve been working on this record for such a long time. It feels incredible that people are finally hearing it. It’s definitely the record I’m most proud of so far!
It is called ‘Join The Club - what is the meaning behind that?
We called it Join The Club because we wanted to create a real sense of community between us and our fans and to let them know that we are going through the same shit that they are. As an independent band it’s super important to us that the fans know that they are in fact what makes up the music industry and they’re only ones we care about. We wouldn’t have been able to make another album without them and we’ve known that since day one.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
This album was actually recorded in my living room as crazy as that sounds. We did the drums in an actual studio as I don’t think our neighbours would ever have forgiven us! The technology these days makes it so much easier to record in traditional spaces. And honestly I loved it so much, I felt right at home (no pun intended). It was just so nice waking up, making a brew and cracking on with whatever song we were working on that day.
We’re a little bit strange when we’re recording in that we do it backwards to most albums. We actually record all the music and vocals first to a basic programmed drum track and then we go into the studio and record the real drums last. We recorded this way during Happier and now it’s become the norm for us. It means we can be super flexible with the arrangements of the songs which we really dig.
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
It’s a real mixed bag between the songs, I tend to do much better at writing sadder tracks because I find that writing is like therapy for me. I’m so sorry to every fan that I have turned you into my personal therapist, it’s just a great way of purging all the demons. There’s songs about bad relationships, songs about not giving up, songs about mental health and one happy song about being in love.
If the album could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
Scott Pilgrim
Mainly because it’s the band’s overall favourite film that we watch all the time and would do anything to have a song in that movie!
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album - if so, which one and why?
My favourite lyric is probably on Tear It Out which is only on the deluxe version of the record. The lyric is “And in city we bare our souls to the blacked out walls of bathroom stalls” - I grew up spending every weekend going to Rock City and every weekend you’d have one too many drinks, end up in the dingy toilets baring your soul. Many a band conversation has been held on that club floor, it’s basically the birthplace of As December Falls. I love how that line embodies the beginning of this band.
Now the album is out there - what next?
We’re playing acoustic in-stores all week which is gonna be fab and then we’re doing our biggest ever headline tour across the UK and Europe in November! After that, probably writing a new record!
