Orange County punks Taken Days released the brand new single “Least Of All You” last week. The lead single off the trio’s upcoming Sbam Records album, Any Minute, sees the three-piece once again working with Cameron Webb and crafting delightfully melodic pop-punk tracks. TGEFM was joined by Brent Waterworth (Guitar/ Vocals) (with some input from Landon Asbury (Drums)) for another in our Roll of the Dice interview series.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congrats on the release of “The Least Of You” single. What was the process like in fleshing out that single and bringing it to life compared to the tracks on Every Second?
Thanks for having us for the interview. Every Second was very different because that was more of a collection of the songs that we had written since the last EP not a true album. For this record, we set out to write an album. We had a mission and we spent two years crafting the songs through rehearsals, writing sessions, recording, and pre-production as a band and with Webb. Our motto was to serve the song and make each one as good as we could. And make each song unique to the others but have it fit for the vibe of the overall record. We did this by having Corey and myself each write a batch of songs or parts of songs. We then brought them to the band and wrote all of the songs live in a room together. We recorded a version of each song and continued to re-record them as we would listen and make changes along the course of 2021 and 2022.
Specifically for “Least Of All You,” Landon reminded me that it was the first song that I wrote for the record and showed to the guys in the summer of 2021. We all liked it right away and we composed and crafted it together as a band from there.
I feel like we chose it as a first single because it’s a solid track on the record and a good first impression of where we’re going with this album. If you like that then buckle up cause there is a lot more coming.
What album or band or significant singles made you go “Yeah, this is what I want to do” Not just an influence but who or what was the catalyst?
Landon said “Pennywise self-titled in Jr. high was his catalyst”.
I agree as that was one of mine along with Nofx, Op Ivy, Misfits, Minor Threat, Bad Religion, etc…. which I all found after the boom of Green Day Dookie and Offspirng Smash, once that all hit the radio and MTV.
I would say we all each have our influences who got us into punk rock and convinced us that we too can and should probably be doing this ourselves. But as a band for the music we write for Taken Days you can hear all kinds of punk influences. We consider ourselves to be a pop punk rock band. But take no offense to anyone’s interpretation of what they think we sound like. We hear, emo, power pop, alt rock, punk rock, etc…… and that’s totally cool with us.
You worked again with Cameron Webb for this. I would think the presence of a a producer with his resume would put my personal anxiety through the roof. Was there any added pressure or need to impress working with such a goddamned legend? What advice did he bring into the room to help you bring out your best in the studio?
Cameron is a goddamn legend. You are right about that. I and I’m sure we were all more intimidated the first go around. But during the every second recording sessions in 2020 we became good friends and he became like a fourth band member to us. That bond and friendship have continued and grown. We did the senses fail cover with him in 2021 as well. So doing the next record felt natural, but as he constantly reminded us, this record has to be much better than the last one.
Cameron was looped in from the beginning of the writing process. We sent GoPro footage of rehearsals, cell phone recordings and formal pro tools demos back and forth over the course of writing this record. We had several phone conversations and in-person listening sessions with all four of us where we would have detailed discussions about every part of every song and ask if that is it or do we think we can we can that part better.
Cameron pushes us as hard as he thinks we can take it to make us the best versions of ourselves. We welcome it, love it, and think it has made us grow. He will tell you if he thinks a part isn’t good enough or is irrelevant to the song and he will say when he thinks a part rips. We don’t always do what he suggests but we absolutely always consider it and try something based on what he thinks. We do that for everyone’s opinion in the band about each song and each part. It is a true collaboration of creativity and the only mission is to make some cool shit.
We don’t find that process of working with him to be intimidating, although it’s stressful and hard at times we find it to be exciting. And for the record, we are humbled and grateful that we get to work with him and our band is listed amongst so many great records that he has worked on.
One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should know about?
Landon said Bristol to Memory. I agree with him, they are amazing.
There really are so many great things happening throughout punk rock right now whether its hardcore, ska, or pop punk there are great bands that are a part of this next wave. I do hope this next wave of all of that really breaks hard because so many bands deserve it. It’s very hard to list them all but I will say that we’d like to direct everyone to check out Sbam Records roster and Wiretap Records roster. Both are amazing lables and stacked with so many incredible records, and bands, and we are humbled to be listed amongst those names like: Mercy Music, Odd Robot, Versus the World, Chaser, Venomous Pinks, Moldy Roses, Diesel Boy, Spanish Love Songs, Wicked Bears…… and on and on I could go. Go listen to it all, please. And buy some records, these bands deserve it.
What’s next for Taken Days?
We will have three more singles released before the record releases on Jan 5. One single drops each month for the remainder of 2023. So keep an ear out and pre-save those so you get them right away.
We are filming a super fun music video this week for one of those singles so also be on the lookout for that.
We plan to play and tour as much as we can get to support this record. So if you want Taken Days in your town hit us up and maybe we can pull that off. We are also planning to do some international touring opportunities if we can get all the details lined up.
Was there anything we missed or that you’d like to put more focus on?
I would just remind and encourage people to support live music. Especially your local scene and the global local punk scene. Get out to shows, rock out, and buy merch directly from the support bands and the headliners so they can fund their bands and continue to get out there and play. If you can’t see a band you love then order there merch and stream their songs.
Thanks and we hope to see you out there. Come by and say hi
Cheers
Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
