Philly's pop-punk princes-turned-emperors The Wonder Years aren't sad anymore - and can you blame them? The band have discovered the upsides to this awkward life. We got to speak to vocalist 'Soupy', about the creation and the subsequent critical acclaim their sophomore attempt has garnered. And possibly, maybe, (not so distant) future album plans...
Shawn@RRR: Straight to the formalities, thanks for taking the time to answer a few of our questions. Would you please give your name and position in the band.
Soupy: My name is Soupy. Well, it isn't, but no one really calls me anything else. I sing in The Wonder Years.
Shawn@RRR: Your sophomore full-length, The Upsides, has finally been unleashed on the masses. How does it feel to finally have the album released?
Soupy: It feels fantastic my friend. We are currently on our way to the last of our five record release shows and I can say that, without a doubt, they have been some of the most fun shows we've ever played. We worked so hard on this record and seeing kids finally singing the words back is very cool.
Shawn@RRR: Guide us through the writing and recording process for the new album. What was the process like in comparison to your 2007 release Get Stoked On It!?
Soupy: Get Stoked On It! was a loosely associated group of songs written over the course of a year or so and thrown together on an album. A third of the record came from older releases. Songs were rushed and thrown on the record to finish it. The Upsides was the exact opposite. We wrote until we were happy and ready to record. We all lived together and worked on songs together everyday. We wrote an album, not a collection of songs.
Shawn@RRR: Quite a few publications (and fans) have touted The Upsides as being one of the most remarkable pop-punk efforts in quite some time. How does this make you feel as an artist?
Soupy: That's such an unreal thing for us to hear. I mean, we were very proud of the release but I don't think we ever expected to get such a wild reaction. I mean, I've loved this genre since I was 13. To be able to contribute a record to it that people are hailing the way they do makes me feel more accomplished than I can put into words.
Shawn@RRR: Going along with the previous question, what have been some of your favorite pop-punk releases of the past decade?
Soupy: Wow. The past decade. That's hard. I'm going to say Commit This To Memory by Motion City Soundtrack, Say it Like You Mean It by The Starting Line and Upstairs/Downstairs by The Ergs but there are so so many more.
Shawn@RRR: Did you expect the album to be as well received as it has been? What has been the overall reaction from long-time fans?
Soupy: Most people have been very excited about the new record and where it's going. Some people seem a little bummed about the lack of breakdowns but I couldn't care less. That shit was cheesy. We weren't doing it well and so we stopped and did something we actually knew how to do. Overall, I'd say that people agree with us on that.
Shawn@RRR: While Get Stoked On It! touched on subjects such as astronauts, zombies, and ninjas, The Upsides finds the band dabbling in subject matter such as trouble fitting in, personal quips, and overcoming sadness. Was this change to a seemingly more personal approach natural progression or something completely different?
Soupy: The subject matter change happened on Won't Be Pathetic Forever, I think. Get Stoked On It! was fun to write but it became really difficult to get on stage every night and sing songs that meant literally nothing. I had things to say and now I'm saying them. If we were still writing about ridiculous shit, I wouldn't still be in this band. I'd rather be a teacher and contribute something to the world. I feel like with The Upsides, we are contributing and I'm really happy with that.
Shawn@RRR: As such, with a more personal approach, the album is intensely relatable for 18 to 20-somethings, serving as a siren song for the collegiate masses if you will. During the writing process of the album, did you believe that it would make such an impact?
Soupy: We get a lot of messages from people saying that we've helped them and that's amazing. (Side note: We don't always get to answer all of the messages because we're on tour but we read them and they mean a lot to us!) That wasn't the point though. I wrote the lyrics for myself and my friends. I wrote them because I needed a wake up call and more often than not, I need to take my own advice. People have been saying that my lyrics read like journal entries and that's because they more or less are. Writing this record was really cathartic for me. I'm not going to sit here and say that I'm better, because I'm not but I'm getting there, more so every day. The point of the record wasn't to be happy all the time but to not give up so easily. Apparently, the lyrics are really relateable. At least that's what I've been told and that rules because it means I'm not the only one feeling like this. It's good to not be alone.
Shawn@RRR: What are some of your personal favorite tracks from The Upsides and why? Lyrically, what track stands out the most?
Soupy: I love "Hey Thanks" because we got to do something totally different, "Washington Square Park" because I think it represented a turning point for me and pulled the whole record together and "All My Friends Are In Bar Bands" because it's my favorite lyrically. It meant a lot to me to have a chance to shout out all of my friends on the record. They're all doing great things and I hope they continue to. I love all of them.
Shawn@RRR: The final track on the album, “All My Friends Are In Bar Bands,” features a slew major players in the current pop-punk scene; Shane Henderson and Dave Mackinder to name a few. How did the appearances come about?
Soupy: The idea was to give the end of the record a community feel. I wanted to feel better after writing The Upsides lyrically but I wanted all of my friends to feel that way too. I hit up a bunch of our friends in different bands and they all recorded the parts with friends or by themselves and emailed them in. I think the end result was this feeling that together, as a scene, as a group of friends, we're all going to beat this-- whatever it is.
Shawn@RRR: Ultimately, what do you want people to take away from listening to The Upsides?
Soupy: Your life isn't as bad as you think it is and if it really is that bad, then you need to make a change. Anything you could say to respond to that statement other than "ok" is just an excuse.
Shawn@RRR: Currently the band has a number of CD release shows coming up before the full US tour with Therefore I Am and Man Overboard starts in February. Is it a safe bet that the band will be touring through most of the year? Any plans for international touring?
Soupy: I don't want to ever not be on tour again. Actually, that's a wild hyperbole but I think it makes the point sound stronger. We're going to be doing a lot of touring. Like, a lot and hopefully we'll be all over the globe.
Shawn@RRR: Besides touring, what are some things that you'd like to see The Wonder Years accomplish over the course of the year?
Soupy: I want to put out two more releases. We already have one recorded and that's coming out in April I think. I'd like to see us get another out too. They won't be big but they'll happen if everything goes to plan.
Shawn@RRR: What is the most rewarding part about being a part of The Wonder Years?
Soupy: I think the fact that I get to spend all of my time hanging out with my friends, seeing tons of cool people and playing shows is the biggest reward. We've worked very hard for a very long time and I plan on enjoying it.
Shawn@RRR: With such overwhelming praise for the new album, is it safe to say you're not sad anymore?
Soupy: Haha. I'm getting there, man. I'm getting there.
Shawn@RRR: That's all the questions we have, thanks again for taking the time to answer them. Is there anything you'd like to add?
Soupy: Pick up The Upsides if you haven't. I can't promise you'll like it because I don't know you or what you like, but I can promise that we poured every ounce of ourselves into it.
Listen to the man. The Upsides is out now, via No Sleep Records and can be ordered by clicking here. If you need some convincing, just check our review.
Soupy is the man! He is seriously an inspiration. Pick up the CD it is so worth it.
His responses are awesome. Pop punk is not dead
Pop Punk is def not dead. They recorded The Upsides at a studio 5 min from my house and are from right near me and its sad how many of the shitty people he describes i know. But yeah this is an amazing cd gonna be one of the best of the year.