Joyful Talks of Singles, New EP, and Further Plans for More Music Underway!
Pop punks JOYFUL have an EP expected to be released this year, along with an array of singles out now! The band talks about these releases, with the plan to just continue writing music, play shows when the time comes around, and exposure themselves to the music scene.
1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or did it come out just like that?
We definitely didn’t put too much thought into the name haha. It was just something that kind of came about spontaneously, if I remember correctly we were just spitting out random words trying to come up with anything that sounded half-decent. We liked “joyful.” because it seemed a bit ironic given the music we were writing was a bit melancholy.
2. Why did you want to play this genre?
I think it’s just what we’ve always been comfortable with. We all grew up going to punk and emo shows in Chicago and the Chicago suburbs so it’s a sounds that’s just hardwired into our musical DNA I guess. We also have always loved bands like Jimmy Eat World and Senses Fail so it’s pretty hard to not end up writing music similar to that.
3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?
Andy (Vocals, Guitar) and me (Jake)(Drums) have been friends since we were 13. We’ve played in bands together since we both started learning to play instruments. I met Will (Bass) through some mutual friends. When Andy and I were throwing around the idea of starting the band he was the first guy I thought of.
4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
We’re currently based out of Chicago. Well technically we’re in the suburbs, but doesn’t it sound way cooler to say you’re in the city? The music scene for punk and emo has been and continues to be awesome here. It feels like there’s always amazing new bands starting up regularly and great shows happening all the time. Rematch, Wilmette, The Region, Wolf Rd, and Commonweather are some of our favorite bands right now. Check them out!
5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?
There’s really nothing specific. A lot of our music just comes out of things that have happened in our lives. Break ups, loss, fears. Inspiration can come from a lot of different places.
6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
We like to cover a wide range of stuff. We’re in the process of finishing some more songs for an EP and a lot of those songs have to do with fears of the unknown and how to cope with it. Our newest song “We Were Golden” is a pretty good example. That song is all about being slightly terrified of watching yourself grow old day after day and having slowly watch your carefree days of adolescence fade away.
7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)
Yeah we write all of our own stuff. The process can vary from song to song. Sometimes Andy will have a full song with lyrics fleshed out so then it’s just a matter of me and Will adding our parts. And then there’s other cases where someone might have a small idea and the full writing process will be a collaboration between all of us. We really don’t have a precise formula for writing songs.
8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
We’ve released 8 songs so far, all in the form of singles. I think I would just say that anyone who wants to dive in and give us a listen can just expect a nostalgic pop punk / emo sound with some sincere lyrical themes.
9. Do you have any new music in the works?
Yes! We’re currently working on a new EP. We’re hoping to have that out in the early fall so be sure to keep a lookout for that.
10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
We have nothing on the books at the moment. We’ll definitely be playing around the Chicagoland area this summer. When the EP comes out we may do some out of state shows.
11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
I think the plan is to just keep writing songs and try to keep getting better as a band. Hopefully in the near future we can record a full length but we’ll cross that bridge when it comes.
12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
You can find us anywhere you stream music! (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc). You can find merch, tour dates, and all other information on our linktree https://linktr.ee/Joyfultheband.
