- 2025-01-14
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MUSIC
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PUP Returns with New Song “Paranoid”
Toronto-based punk rock band PUP, consisting of Stefan Babcock (vocals/rhythm guitar), Steve Sladkowski (lead guitar), Nestor Chumak (bass) and Zack Mykula (drums), is back with a new song “Paranoid” on January 9, 2025.
The song is their first music in three years since the 2022 album “THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND”.
As the single, it's been in two years since the band came out with a two-song single “How To Live With Yourself / Smoke Screen” of album outtakes.
The track was written by Nestor vVolodymyr Chumak, Stefan Patrick Babcock, Steven Ryan Sladkowski, and Zachary Ivan Mykula. Produced by John Congleton.
The band frontman Stefan Babcock said of the song, “My favourite part of this song is the breakdown 1:45 in. Whenever we try and do a heavy breakdown with catchy vocals we end up sounding like the world's worst melodic hardcore band. But somehow it worked on this song. I think because it's so intense in that moment that it's actually kind of funny and a bit hard to take seriously. There's some humour in that and how it plays against what I'm yelling about in a way I really like. Plus Nestor plays the melody from 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' on the bass at the heaviest moment in the song which really cracks me up every time I hear it.”- The accompanying music video was directed by Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux and Clem Hoener.
Director Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux said of the video, “What started out as a way to keep the bruising and heartbreaking lyrics to 'Paranoid' front and centre turned into a little love letter for rock band merchandise and the unsung heroes who run the merch table. Special thanks to co-director Clem Hoeney and all the real PUP fans who came out and went so hard for a hundred takes!” -
The band also launchies their MORE BAD STUFF - A PUPTHEBAND Substack, a digital continuation of their zine series.
It will feature unreleased songs, writing process discussions, play-through tracks, comics, photos, live recordings, and tour stories.
Photo by Martyna Wisniewska - source : Apple Music
