Warped Tour Interview: The New Low

2016-07-11

Story by Anne Erickson

Get to know alternative metal band the New Low

The New Low will unearth their debut album on Razor & Tie, “Continuance,” on July 22, and the guys are also gearing up for a run on the 2016 Vans Warped Tour. Their sound is an energetic mix of alternative rock and metal, with frontman Garrett Garfield’s melodic vocals and bass player Fletcher Howell guttural screams.

Howell checked in with Audio Ink Radio’s Anne Erickson before the band’s Warped Tour run to talk about how “Continuance” reminded the band why they started making music in the first place. Catch the New Low on the Warped Tour from July 19 through Aug. 13.

The release of your new album, “Continuance,” is coming up on July 22. What do you hope people take away from this album and its songs?

We started writing and recording “Continuance” during a really low point in our personal lives. We had no idea what was going to happen. We had no clue where we were going to be in a year from now.  We pulled ourselves through that self-doubt and uncertainty in the music we were making. We didn’t realize it at the time, but we got a lot out in the open. We could breathe again. We were going through the motions. It ended up reminding us why we started making music in the first place.

I think the main thing we realized – and we hope others take from it – is that the past happens for a reason. We all go through hard times that will make you want to give up. But we all have the power to be stronger than our problems. We just have to find that power.

“Burning Bridges” is a solid tune. What inspired the song?

“Burning Bridges” was one of the first songs we wrote for this album. In short, the best way I can think to describe the song is that misery loves company. We refuse to be miserable. Negative people will try to spread their negativity. You don’t have to allow that in your life. If they can’t be a positive force in your life, burn that bridge and walk away.

You guys hail from Salt Lake City. How would you describe the metal and rock scene there?

The scene here is cool! We have a lot of friends out here in the scene that completely crush it. We wish we could play here more often. Only three of us live in Utah full time, so that’s super hard.

Congratulations on landing on the Van Warped Tour this year. Are you stoked?

Absolutely! Playing Warped as our first tour is absolutely unreal to us! This tour is a huge reason we all ended up playing music in the first place. We’re grateful for the opportunity.

Have you been to the Vans Warped Tour before as a fan?

We have all been attending Warped since we were about 13 years old. I can comfortably say that each of us has been that kid standing in the crowd looking up at that stage thinking “someday.” That maybe sounds corny, but if anybody playing the tour tells you it wasn’t the same way for them, they’re lying! Honestly, we couldn’t be more humbled and excited to make that a reality.

 What bands are you most excited to see and hang with on the Vans Warped Tour?

There are a lot of bands on the tour this year that got us into playing music: Yellowcard, New Found Glory, Good Charlotte, etc. We have a lot of friends on the tour that we’re looking forward to seeing. We are excited to make new friends, too.

What’s next for you guys for the rest of 2016?

We have some things in the works. Warped is a big opportunity for us to continue building our team and we plan to set the bar really high for ourselves. We intend to have a busy 2016, for sure!

Courtesy photo by Kyle Sipple

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Anne Erickson
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Posted by Anne Erickson | Alternative, Features, Interviews, Music