Despite facing some challenges because of COVID-19, Studio 720 is releasing its sophomore album, Smokes, Let’s Go, next month.
The Prince George band has been playing hard rock in the northern capital for half-a-decade and is now following up its debut album, Breakwater.
Vocalist J.P. Muldoe says for 720's second album, which drops May 1, the band wanted to explore a new idea, while still being steeped in rock n’ roll but without being cliché.
Muldoe says, lyrically, the album explores the idea of functional addiction, following a weekend of partying from the highs of Friday night to the lows of Sunday morning.
“The album starts off very high energy and very light and fun and about having a good time partying with your friends and goes all the way through to Sunday morning when functional addiction can take its toll,” says Muldow, noting how some people experience withdrawals, depression and anxiety when the party winds down.
“It’s really a story about taking the good with the bad and realizing at the end of the party there's a price to be paid.”
Muldoe says although the album follows a story, each song stands on its own.
“They don’t need the context of the previous song, but thematically it’s a concept album.”
Normally, the band would be getting ready to tour in anticipation of Smokes, Let’s Go, but because of COVID-19, they’re stuck inside.
“It’s been a huge challenge for us,” says Muldoe, explaining that Studio 720 had to cancel its upcoming tour that would take the band throughout most of the province and into Alberta.
As a northern B.C. troupe, Muldoe says they’re already limited in terms of places they can play compared to larger cities, but there’s still a certain advantage in being from the north.
“We are a small tight night community, we are limited by where we can play, but those places are familiar to us. — It’s so easy to go in and make those relationships and have it been successful.”
Even though the band is not touring and has a little free time, Muldoe says social distancing means their collaborative process has also slowed down.
“Without being able to meet the rest of the band the songwriting process is much slower because you can’t bounce ideas off of each other and really grind things down and refine things.”
However, the band is all too familiar with hard times.
Studio 720 formed when most of the members were under 19, which made it challenging to find venues in town where they could perform, and resulted in the band losing steam, breaking up and everyone going separate ways.
Then, tragedy struck when bassist William Struke lost his life in a car accident.
“His family asked if we could play the funeral — Things just clicked again, we said why aren’t we doing this, Will would have loved it if we got back together.”
After Studio 720’s original drummer left and drummer Nick Tindale joined, the band’s line-up was finalized and the group began playing Prince George, hitting the road and has now been performing together for five-years.
Muldoe says the band is planning on rescheduling its 2020 tour next year, and wants to plan some free events that everyone can attend once social distancing restrictions are taken away.
In the meantime, Muldoe and guitarist Ryan Hurrie have been playing Facebook LIVEs and are looking at more ways to keep the people engaged and excited.
“Everyone is in this together and they are stuck inside and just as bored as we are, right?” says Muldoe.
You can find Studio 720’s music on all the platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon and connect with them on Facebook, Instagram or their website.
