If I were to choose one word to summarize the kind of year Backyard Superheroes is having, it would be “new.” Besides introducing some new members to the band, 2024 also finds them releasing new music on a new record label. Plus, the band is from New Jersey, so it’s even more apropos.
Today, Backyard Superheroes debuts their first single from their upcoming album on Jump Up Records. “Mass Hysteria” features a robust horn section, meaningful lyrics about the world today, and a guest appearance from the one and only Coolie Ranx. Not a bad way to kick off the new era of Backyard Superheroes.
To celebrate all the excitement of the day, lead singer and guitar player Josh Hershkovitz assembled some of the band to answer some questions about all of this newness happening to the band. Check out our interview with Backyard Superheroes below.
You’ve released a new song today called “Mass Hysteria.” How does it feel to get some new music out as it’s been a while since your last release?
Josh: Honestly, it feels like a weight off our shoulders. Being totally honest, there are some previous releases that didn’t feel like we put all our efforts into. My only goal was to make sure that if we put out new music, we weren’t cutting corners. We chose “Mass Hysteria” as the first single because it’s kinda our most “Backyard Superheroes” style song on the new record – the sound folks have come to expect from us. The rest of the album may be a bit of a fresh air for the OG fans.
Tam: I’ve known the core group for almost a decade and have filled in on various instruments in the past for live shows over the years. But it’s been pretty rad as a relatively new member of the band to be a contributing part of the creative process for this single (and record)!
Brian S.: I’ll let the vets really dive deeper into this, but as a newer member who was a fan of the band before auditioning, I feel super excited to release this. It is certainly a track we worked really, REALLY hard on, and we’re excited to show everyone the fruits of our labor, as well as what’s to come!
What’s the premise behind the new track? What’s it about?
Josh: ::Points at the world with a look of panic:: We all can kinda sense that feeling of impending doom, right? Like we’ve gone through this kinda thing before and haven’t learned from our mistakes? Yeah, me neither…
Tam: Cats and dogs living together.
Brian S: So the track is as advertised, Mass Hysteria! We are in an ever-changing, ever-volatile world where every bit of “news” we hear is about a new war or he-said/she-said political BS. No matter where you try to escape to avoid the problems in the world, it just keeps growing and it feels like nothing is truly getting better. I feel like we tried to reflect that in the sheer amount of parts we recorded to create this track. I’m pretty sure it was well over 50 unique individual parts!
Ska royalty Coolie Ranx lent some vocals to the track. What was it like working with him for the song and then the music video?
Brian S: Josh really had more time interacting with Coolie during the recording process, but working with him on the music video was a lot of fun! He’s a good dude, very humble, and was open to our different and wild ideas.
Josh: OK, so this is probably my favorite moment to look back on during the recording of the track. Coolie couldn’t have been more awesome to work with. He came in with so much energy that he had us both putting up our hands while doing the actual tracking.
That being said, the funniest moment was when he showed up a full week earlier than expected to my house to record. Cut to me scrambling to clean my house in pajamas on a random Saturday morning to let in one of the legends I grew up listening to. Contrasting the seriousness of his lyrics with the goofiness in the video is 100% on purpose. The usual cliche of ska lyrics being heavy, but the music balancing it out.
Are there any other people in ska that you’d love to work with next?
Josh: We’ve always been a fan of having guests on our albums – from folks like Coolie and MC Lars with the name recognition, but also just having our friends like Dave (P-Funk North) and Shelly (before she joined us) jump in for a few verses. A portion of that definitely stemmed from me wanting to sing as little as possible, but now that we have me, Tam and Shelly, we really slimmed down on guest appearances. That being said, I will never say no to Gwen Stefani. Have your people call my people!
Brian S: Based on the size of our band, we’re used to a crowded stage!
One of your calling cards is having a robust horn section. They sound absolutely great on the new track. What’s the writing and recording process like to make sure you take full advantage of the diabolical horns?
Josh: I’ll let Brian talk more to this one, but this band is a giant collaboration machine these days. Every track has been put together with input from everyone from drums to baritone sax and beyond.
Brian S: First of all, thank you for the compliment! I feel like the writing process was different for each song. A lot of our writing is by trial and error, as well as throwing darts at a dart board and seeing what sticks. We collaborate as an entire ensemble. Everyone pulls their weight with writing, although some songs definitely have one or two people’s fingerprints on them a little more than others. Having more people, as well as outsiders of the band to lend inspiration, was pivotal for the completion of our work.
For this track specifically, we started with a basic guitar and drum scratch track, then built the horns and hits from there, which is how a good chunk of this album got written. The recording process, again, was trial and error in a few senses, as we played around with a few different microphones to get the best and brightest sound possible. Shout out to the comically large mic we used to record trombone! We messed around with placement and angles and then listened to the track ad nauseam until we were satisfied (or until our ears could not tell the difference)!
Aside from this new track, do you have anything else brewing in the new music department?
Josh: Only the rest of the album. I cannot wait for our friends to hear this one. Maybe more music video ideas we’ve been throwing around. Past that? We do love us some holiday fundraisers.
Brian S: All we can say is keep your eyes and ears open. We’ve got some big things on the horizon with the release of this track, plus we’re constantly coming up with new ideas as the year goes on. As Josh said, we haven’t written holiday music in a while, soooo…
What does a successful and fulfilling year for Backyard Superheroes look like?
Josh: We just wanna play fun shows. We’ve got a handful of upcoming shows coming in nearly monthly, with some out of state and some more local. Other than that, here’s hoping for a Skanksgiving 2024!
Brian S: Having the opportunity to share our new and old music to new and returning audiences, regardless of venue. But, Most of All (see what I did there?), a positive remainder of the year to all of our members and families.
What new bands are exciting you these days?
Josh: Oh boy. There are so many out there that are KILLING IT these days, but one artist has just totally taken hold of me the last 15 months or so – Ren. Totally out of my usual style, but dude’s got so much talent and such an incredible story. Plus he’s got some ska influences and songs about mental health, so I guess it just hit me at the right time.
Other than that, some friends we have partied with the last year or two that keep me smiling: The End Times, Title Holder, Runaway Ricochet, Skamagotchi, and everyone who played Buffalo Ska Fest with us last year. Also not a new band, but the latest Sum 41 release has been on repeat for a few weeks for me. If this really is their last album, they went out hard.
Brian S: There are a bunch I can think of, but of bands we have played with over the past year and a half or other bands I’ve been listening to as well lately, I would have to say Runaway Ricochet, Joker’s Republic, Bite Me Bambi, The Going Rate, Half Past Two, and Millington. If you haven’t already, check out their new releases! Millington has an awesome new Ska goes Emo EP out, and Half Past Two just released a killer new album. Above all else, SUPPORT LOCAL SKA! SUPPORT LOCAL MUSICIANS!
Gary: Something To Do, Arcade All Stars, The Kittyhawks, For the Record, Title Holder, Pink Slip, the Rins.
With No Doubt and Sublime just wrapping up their stint on Coachella, is 2024 going to be the Summer of Ska?
Brian S: Haha! Who knows! It would be lovely to see, but so long as the inspiration train keeps churning and helps inspire new and old artists to contribute to the scene, that’s what matters most.
Josh: Hell, every summer is the summer of ska, if you look at all the festivals and local shows that pop up as soon as the weather gets nicer. I just wish some of the bigger shows remembered that their fanbase used to see them on blacktop pavement in 100 degree heat for $25 at Warped Tour. Not loving the $150+ arena tour price tags these days for a 3-band bill. Now get off my lawn and go see a local show.
Tam: Summer always seems to be more suited to styles of music such as ska and reggae in general. But based on the live footage of the crowds, I’m not sure if we want to use Coachella as a measuring stick.
Gary: I don’t know, but I hope they tour together!
If you could choose one ska band to reunite and play Coachella 2025, who would it be and why?
Josh: Forget Coachella, I just want Behind Deadlines back.
Tam: See previous comment about Coachella.
Gary: Dance Hall Crashers. 100%
Brian S: That’s a fun, but tough question. I think the most popular answer would be Reel Big Fish. What ever happened to Reel Big Fish? Why did Aaron and Scott quit? There are certainly those that would say The Mighty Mighty BossTones as well. For me and based on my nostalgia, I would be in the majority and say Reel Big Fish.
Where do you fall within the chatter about ska seeing another resurgence?
Tam: Everything comes and goes in waves. So, when in doubt, paddle out, pop it, and go off.
Gary: I don’t think it ever went away!
Brian S: Ultimately, I say it’s a good thing. Ska was the genre that gave us all the inspiration to be better musicians and people. We would not be where we are right now without the genre and 3rd Wave. Ska is positive vibes, and I think we all need that right about now!
Josh: I have mixed feelings on this. We’ve been part of the ska scene since 2012. Holy crap. There has never been a moment where there weren’t incredibly talented ska bands showing up at local shows or on tour bills. Saying it is seeing another resurgence because some bigger bands are making waves just pushes aside the bands that have been playing to sold-out VFWs and bar stages the last few decades. Ska isn’t going to come back to the mainstream, and to be honest, it shouldn’t – but it never actually went away.
Any last words?
Josh: Never forget: Everyone’s got something going on in their own lives. Social media is a highlight reel, not real life. Try to be decent. Go see some bands you never heard of at a local show for $10 and fall in love with music again!
Tam: Have fun and be a good human.
Brian S: Thank you for taking the time to interview us! To the readers, thanks for taking the time to let us ramble to you about our new track! We hope you enjoy it, and we’re really looking forward to showing you what’s to come, so stick around!
Gary: Shazbot, nanu nanu.
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This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.