I love discovering new bands. There’s something special about learning about a new band and spreading the word about them far and wide. That’s what I hope happens with Calgary pop punk trio, Only The Strong. I hope you read this interview, watch the videos, go check out their EP, and continue to spread the word. That’s really how we all have to do it these days. Independent is about supporting the community and lifting each other up. So, with that, I offer up my new pop punk discovery to you, dear reader. If you miss the days of Drive-Thru Records, then Only The Strong is for you. If you like your pop punk with a dash of emo, then Only the Strong is for you.
Ahead of the band’s debut EP Fractured being released, lead singer Mason Brooks spent some time answering some questions about the album, the struggles of being a band during pandemic times, and how they’ve had to adapt. It’s a great read for music fans, and bands alike, because Mason offers up some helpful hints to help stay top of mind in the age of content creation. So, sit back, relax, put Fractured in your earholes, and enjoy the interview.
So, one good thing about a global pandemic is that it gives you some time to work on music. Your debut finally sees the light of day in September. What was the journey that took you from formation in 2018 to September 17th, 2021 like?
Honestly it was crazy. We have experienced so much in what feels like so long, but so short at the same time. COVID definitely threw a wrench in our plans just like everyone else, but it gave us time to focus on the things we were lacking in, and also gave us time to really explore the songs before recording them and make them as impactful as they could be.
For the uninitiated, what’s the elevator pitch for why they should listen to Only the Strong?
We are a pop punk band with elements of easy core and 2000’s emo embedded in our music. If you like pop punk with heavy vocals, catchy riffs and bouncy choruses, we are perfect for you.
You’ve cut your teeth in the Canadian scene. What other bands should folks not so familiar with Canadian music check out next?
A few really great bands that we really vibe with are Cloaker, Calling All Captains, and Gutter King. They are all extremely talented musicians and great people in general.
You’ve released a couple of singles off the EP so far. How has the reception been for them?
The reception has honestly been better than we could’ve ever hoped for. “Sinking Ships” was the first one we put out right before COVID hit. The day after we put it out, we played a show and people in the crowd had already learned the words and were singing back to us, which was an incredible moment. Then coming back and putting out “Picking Up the Pieces” and having it get placed on Spotify’s Pop Punk’s Not Dead playlist was insane. We have all been listening to that playlist for years and seeing our song on it was so surreal. Now with songs like “Burn” and “Vacant” doing better every day, we can’t wait to put out the full EP.
What are you most excited about having the entire EP release?
Honestly, just getting everything out there. There is a certain weight we have felt over the last while while trying to get everything ready. It’s stressful. You want everything to be perfect and hope that everything does as well as it can. Plus, we are putting ourselves out there to people who have never heard of us and hoping that they like what they hear. So, it’s exciting to think that we are so close to having everything out there so we can hear what people think and see the reception instead of building it up in our heads.
With things being weird these days, what plans do you have to support the release?
Well a music video for starters. We are working on something that we think people will really enjoy and want to watch over and over again. Also, we are looking into touring and how that can be done safely and responsibly. It was a hard choice deciding to put the EP out now, but we have back up plans in case things don’t work out the way we hope. If we can’t do a physical tour, then we are going to be looking into virtual shows and connecting with people online.
Social media has been more important than ever for bands during the pandemic. How have you leveraged it to keep top of mind with your fans?
A few things we did were starting a discord. It’s been really helpful in keeping in touch with our fans. We are able to talk to them every day and ask them questions and show them new things directly. On top of that, we have been streaming on twitch to help push our reach a little bit further. Then also, we have been putting up more content on all social media. Consistency is very important.
Do you have any tips or tricks for bands that are looking to get more active in that space?
Make content. You can’t know what will and won’t do well in helping you grow if you don’t put anything out there. Then once you put it out, don’t get upset if it doesn’t go as planned. Learn from it so the next thing you make can be even better.
Looking into the future when things are “normal” again, what are your major goals for the band?
We actually set goals a little while ago for what we wanted to achieve with this EP. We wanted to break 100,000 streams on the EP, and tour across Canada and the States. The closer we get to the release the more we realize how achievable these goals are which is unreal.
If you could tour with any active band around, who would it be and why?
I think The Home Team would be a band we would want to tour with one day. They are amazing musicians that put so much passion into their work. It would be an amazing experience to share a stage with them.
Any last words?
Check out our debut EP, Fractured, coming out September 17th! We are so excited to show everyone what we have spent the last year working on. Also make sure to follow us on any and all social media platforms to stay up to date with what we are up to!