Locals Only: TOWNS
On the cusp of releasing their debut album, Aston Valladares from pop-punk two-piece TOWNS tells all on the moments that make their sentimental slowdown LP a must listen.
Interview by Zara Richards // Image by Luke Francescini
Your debut album, sentimental slowdown, is out November 15! What does this record mean to you?
So many things! The album captures everything we wanted to do since we formed, including a national headline album tour with a local band we love like Colourblind. I feel like this is the album our 13-year-old selves wanted to make – there are a range of different childlike emotions on [the album] but from an adult lens. But, as much as it’s a new beginning because it’s our first [LP], it also feels a bit of an end to what we were trying to do. I think we’ve reinvented what we want to do next and we’re excited to start that journey.
The record is rooted in nostalgia. For you, why do you want to draw from that emotion creatively?
There’s so much pressure – especially for teenagers – to be grown up. There are immature traits that aren’t ideal to have as an adult, but there are lots you should keep and ‘grow up’ shouldn’t be used as a derogatory term. [Our] music is a sign that if you don’t grow up, it doesn’t mean you can’t grow as a person. We’re both adults in our 20s, but we never want to let go of who we were when we were 16. Some elements aren’t parts of us anymore, but they’re connected to us. It was important to make sure our first album focused on [remembering] where we came from.
What song from the album do you think will surprise people the most?
‘Coming Clean’ is our first acoustic ballad. Every album needs one! It reflects on the qualities you don’t like about yourself and the qualities you struggle to get along with. Sonically, it’s different for us – it almost has a Goo Goo Dolls vibe with strings in it. There’s also a song called ‘Safe & Sound’ that I’m excited to play live. In the studio, when we were tracking it, we couldn’t stop smiling – it’s fast, it’s punk, it’s energetic. It’s everything Dan [Steinert] and I wanted to achieve.
Tell us more about your tour. What should we expect?
Hopefully, the new songs are received well and we can phase out some of our old ones. But it’s hard to let go of the songs you love playing! We also love to chat with the audience – whatever we can do to break that gap between fan and artist means, hopefully, everyone in the room is connected.
Why was Colourblind the band you wanted to come along for the ride?
We formed in the same three months and have played so many shows with them. Now, we’re back together after all these years! Colourblind are an important band to us – if there’s any tour to have them on, it’s this one. They also deserve to be heard – they’re one of those bands that exist authentically and do it for the right reasons.
What do you hope people take from this album?
I hope they enjoy it – that’s the obvious one. You don’t want to write the same song twice, and on this album, we [intended] to make sure every song had a different vibe. If someone hasn’t listened to us before, then maybe they can find one song they like. And if one song is enough to bring them to a show, then we’ve done our job!
You cut your teeth in SA. How have you seen the scene grow?
When Dan and I first started playing in younger punk bands, it wasn’t great. It was competitive – everyone had this idea of getting famous, which was a bit icky. Around 2016, that just dissipated. Now, a band can play with anyone and it rocks. It means there’s more exposure – you’re not just sitting in your own scene, watching the same bands; you experience other things.
See TOWNS play at the Crown & Anchor, supported by Colourblind and Molly Rocket on November 21 and 22. Tickets on sale now.
