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1.) We’re super-excited to have some time today with acclaimed indie rock group Breakup Shoes; greetings and salutations gang, and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, could you all say ‘hi’ and introduce yourselves to our ever-inquisitive readers?
Yo! Thanks for having us. My name is Nick and I’m the frontman/lyricist/rhythm guitarist of the aforementioned indie rock band Breakup Shoes, coming to you from Brooklyn by way of Phoenix.
2.) Major kudos and accolades on the stunner of a new single “Brainwash” which is out in the world and lighting up record charts from coast to coast! Nick, can you talk about what inspired this gem of a ditty?
Thanks so much! This song, as well as many of our others, was the product of some anxiety spiraling that frequently consumes my free time. It’s about those cringy moments when you said something you shouldn’t and it still pops in your brain six months after it happened. I was thinking about bad habits I struggle to break and things about myself that I’d like to change which led me to thinking about the philosophical concept of “tabula rasa”, to be born as a blank canvas, and I had a fleeting thought that it would maybe be easier to just hit redo than to do the work to fix these things about myself.
3.) The rightly lauded Charlie Brand of Miniature Tigers fame did the producing honors on “Brainwash”! What was it like collaborating with this maestro with the celebrated golden ear?
Collaborating with Charlie was a dream; he made quick friends with myself and the rest of the band. He’s down to try anything and chase down any idea but is quick to give his opinion and push us when needed. I’ve looked up to him as a musician and songwriter for many years, so it’s rad to work with someone you have that level of respect for and I think we made a really special record together.
4.) In your humble opinion what differentiates the “Brainwash” single from the distinguished competition on the 2025 music scene?
I think Brainwash walks an uncommon line between the unabashedly straightforward and earnest lyricism of genres like pop-punk juxtaposed with soft vocals and upbeat indie-sleaze inspired instrumentation.
5.) A companion music video has also dropped for “Brainwash” and it’s a real pip; congrats! How involved were the Breakup Shoes in the overall look and feel of the new video?
Unlike a lot of our earlier videos, we were quite involved with this video. All of the black & white footage was shot either by myself on Super 8 film or on VHS by our guitarist Michael. Our longtime collaborator Braxton Apana directed/filmed the other shots walking around the streets of New York on 16mm film and he crafted a video that’s an ode to my old and new homes; the theme of our upcoming album.
6.) Word ‘round industry campfire has it that, hot on the heels of the release of the new single Brainwash, Breakup Shoes has a full-fledged album entitled Standing Still which is set to premiere this coming October 10 via the good folks at SoundOn; congratulations again! Can you give audiophiles a hint or three as to what they can expect and look forward to with the upcoming eagerly-anticipated LP?
The rumors are true. We’re so stoked about this album. It’s about feeling stuck and complacent, about needing a change but not being sure how to do it. We took that concept into the studio and tried out a lot of new sounds and made something that feels truly original; some songs have fuzzed out guitars, others acoustic or strings, dipping our toes into combining various sub-genres of alt music.
7.) How is the upcoming Standing Still LP similar to some of the band’s prior work such as 2023’s The Death of Everything Worrisome? How is it different?
Like all of our previous records, Standing Still is still very lyrics driven, often rooted in the anxiety and self-loathing that I tend to write from but I believe that Standing Still is a more sonically diverse album. It’s a bit of a departure from our previous work but in a way that feels more true to ourselves and what we’ve always been trying to make.
8.) What does the Breakup Shoes touring/performing dance card look like in the coming weeks and months?
We’re hitting this road this fall supporting Felly who just dropped an excellent new record. We’re playing all up and down the west coast from 10/23-11/14!
10/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
10/25 – Solana Beach, CA @ Music Box
10/29 – Santa Barbara CA @ Soho Restaurant & Music Club
10/30 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Moe’s Alley
11/1 – San Francisco, CA @The Independent
11/2 – Reno, NV @ Cypress Reno
11/4 – Portland, OR @ Holocene
11/5 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s
11/7 – Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl
11/8 – Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo House of Music
11/11 – Boise,ID @ Shrine Social Club
11/12 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell
11/13 – Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre
11/14 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre
9.) Breakup Shoes is based out of the beautiful city of Phoenix, Arizona. How do those particular stomping grounds inform the sound and energy of the band?
I think like a lot of kids who grow up in the suburbs, I always dreamed of escaping. In that desire for more, to flee the strip malls and cacti, I found my escape in music and developed a fairly diverse taste. Our music is influenced by sounds from surf rock to Midwest emo to early 2000s Brooklyn indie rock; all the types of places you might romanticize when you’re sweating on a 117 degree day.
10.) Any final thoughts you might like to share with fans and readers regarding the new single “Brainwash”, as well as the upcoming October 10 LP Standing Still?
I just hope people dig in and enjoy; we loved making this record and I hope you love it too. Come say what’s up on the road, we’re always hanging around the merch booth. Thanks for having us!
