A new single release from The Years Since hits a certain pop rock sweet spot that beckons a nostalgic and anthemic call back to your youth with a colorful but edgy undertone and elements that hit on the late 90s and early 2000s underground alternative rock soundscapes.
"I Gave It Up" certainly touches on what feels like personal experience from the artist and quickly becomes infectious and very relatable as well which has a way of sort of connecting you with the song and its presence.
The guitars have a great crunch to them and the song itself has a wonderful drive that is derived both from the genre of rock that's nailed here, but also from the emotion that the song may have sprung from in the first place.
You can clearly tell that there's a clear love for the craft with every note played and with every second past because the whole thing has this sort of heart to it that grabs at you and keeps you right where it wants to.
There is definitely a lost love and relationship-based premise to this track and that's part of why you're able to relate to it so quickly and so well.
All of that feels very authentic and the song puts it forth with such an impactful hook and energy that you even start thinking of your own people and your own life.
Like I said, this has that nostalgia factor so memories of your own might just pop up into your head, but I think that's part of the point of songs like this.
To be able to feel like either the song is yours or that you're not alone in feeling certain kinds of emotions which gives the song an awesome kind of power.
All in all, this is most certainly a pop-rock single, and that alternative edge is very evident while the song remains danceable and one of those kinds of tracks that you can sing along to with your fists up in the air.
And that's part of the appeal here. This single has a way of feeling like it's served as part of the soundtrack of a certain chapter of your own life, and it works really well especially if you're a certain age and grew up in your teenage years or early 20s hearing this kind of stuff on the radio all the time.
That aesthetic is completely nailed and honestly, it feels really good to listen to.
One of my favorite aspects about this track is the sheer fact that there is plenty of attention to detail going on in terms of the arrangement and the sounds, tones, and delivery, but the song never loses that Soul or that heart.
It's sort of welcoming for a certain age group.
Another important thing here is just that a lot about this track is balanced really well and I don't mean the mix or production. What I mean is that balance between a rock song and a heartfelt and honest single.
It's really not easy to walk that line but it's done very well here and feels completely natural.
This is a memorable track that's ready for the airwaves and with its release, we wanted to have a sit-down with the project's creator Will Griffey to find out where this track actually came from and what might be coming up next.
Here's what happened.
Buzz Slayers: Okay, let's start with " I Gave It Up"! This record had a pop-punk style undertone and it felt anthemic as well! How did this release come about?
I wrote it when I was 20 years old actually. It was during the time Mayday Parade and Yellowcard were in their peak so lyrically and musically I was drawing from those bands. The song is about young relationships. I saw my friends getting into dating and falling in love and of course that came with break ups and broken hearts. The song is really about the first time you give everything to someone and it still doesn’t end up being “happily ever after”. I finally was able to record the song a year ago the way I wanted to record it so many of the musical elements changed but the lyrics have always stayed the same.
Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as an artist?
I played in a punk band when I was in my teens. Fell in love with the bass guitar, starting writing when I was 15 or so. I was always a big reader, so I leveraged my vocabulary and inspiration to tell stories and put it to music. I usually write about other people's experiences but in the songs, I take the place of the people I’m writing about.
Buzz Slayers: What kind of things really inspire songs for you?
I’m sensitive to the human condition. Life really gets people down sometimes. I see and hear people go through tough times and I try to write songs that address the issues but provide an element of hope, encouragement or, at the very least, I hope people listen and feel supported while they are working through life and all its ups and downs.
Buzz Slayers: This single has some interesting approaches to it! Can you give us some of your biggest influences musically?
Like I said earlier, Mayday Parade and Yellowcard for sure but also throw in Jason Lancaster post Mayday day’s as well as Shinedown and Danny Worsnop.
Buzz Slayers: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
I can’t say I’m never not working on music, even when I’m at work I have Melodie’s in my head, I’m always thinking about new arrangements and ideas, however, to better answer the question I work in sales and management for a staffing firm called Aerotek. I’m a big fan of American Football and Baseball so I watch the games. I enjoy going to the gym and spending time with my wife Jazmyne and our dog Bella.
Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?
I’m on a really big Three Days Grace, Shinedown, Asking Alexandria, I Prevail, Black Veil Brides binge right now. Plus now that Yellowcard is back in jamming their tunes as well!
Buzz Slayers: Are you doing any live performances right now?
I actually don’t have a band to perform with and I’m really focusing on releasing quality music and developing relationships in the industry. The live shows will come when the time is right.
Buzz Slayers: Do you record these at a big studio, or do you have a home studio set-up?
I do a mix of recording at home, my friend's apartment, my missing engineers house and a local studio in Lincoln Nebraska called Fuse Recording.
Buzz Slayers: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
I will release 3 more singles this year after I Gave it Up. My next one will be out September 1st called “I Should Have Known” and people can watch behind the scenes footage and get a sneak listen of the track on my website, theyearssince.com
Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
To anyone who takes the time to listen to The Years Since. Thank you. When you listen, I’m trusting that the music brings you hope. When you see a song from me, you won’t really get the same thing twice, I really let the songs come alive on their own, I’m not trying to be genre specific so hopefully my country to punk to rock to ballad shifts are enjoyable.
I truly appreciate the support and the best way to help me continue what I’m doing is to share the music and take a look at the merch that is available and rock some awesome looking gear!