AltWire family: we are excited to introduce to you an exciting new band called Release(r), a melodic post-punk group from Chicago, IL fresh off the release of their debut EP (R)etox. Stemming from personal experiences, and inspired by some of the band members’ darkest moments, the band’s EP (R)etox is a record that dives deep into the struggles that gave Release(r) their musical identity.
We recently sat down with lead vocalist Stephen Mueller to discuss the meaning of the EP, and the stories behind the songs that make up their debut offering. Below is what Stephen had to say!
About the EP:
“Retox is a collection of songs about addiction, obsession, and an overall loss of self-control. Nothing in these songs are fabricated. You wanna hear stories about a particular fucked up time in my life, put on some headphones and jump down the rabbit hole.”
Track by Track:
Blackout – “Instrumental track. In the beginning of the track you can hear people talking “Gibberish” as you slip into a Blackout. The song is the intro to the next song called “The Haze”.”
The Haze – “[The Haze] is about coming home to your significant other the next morning intoxicated, and the complications or arguments that may ensue. The individual in the song has FOMO (fear of missing out) so they feel the need to go out every night. Unfortunately, I feel this song is very relatable to many.”
Precious Things – “When I was in high school, there were a couple of girls that I had strong feelings for that didn’t know I existed. I got the chance to date both of them at individual times and became rather obsessed. It’s pretty much about that in a nutshell.”
Crash Burn Incinerate – “I wrote this song at a pretty dark time in my life. Sometimes when you think you’ve reached rock bottom, you find out that the rabbit hole goes much deeper than you imagined. Complete path of self-destruction.”
Taking Over – “[Taking Over] is about when you start to realize that your addictions are starting to control and take over your life. If you’ve ever drank all night and well into the next day with the help of stimulants, you can relate to this song.”
Miserable – “At a self-destructive time in my life I remember walking into a bar and seeing a group of guys I knew from the neighborhood. One of them turned around, saw me and said “Oh man, look who it is! I thought you were dead!” That was the motivation for the lyrics of this song. The first line of the song is “Dead or so they say.” If I had to pick one song to summarize this EP, it would be ‘Miserable’.
