Ahead of their sophomore album 'Love and Loathing' being released on August 10, With Confidence are taking on the final Warped Tour cross country run on the owly.fm stage. Hot, sweaty and exhausting, the tour has a globe-spanning reputation as the 'punk-rock summer camp'. "Warped’s been incredible man. Such excitement and positivity on the grounds this year. Everyone has been super aware this is the last year so we’re all making the best of it", says vocalist and bassist Jayden Seeley of the finality of this years tour.
With the end of one thing comes the beginning of another, and the band are gearing up for the release of their second record. A follow up to debut ‘Better Weather’, which saw the band tour the world and chart in their home country of Australia, they were intimidated when beginning the writing process. “Nervous. Borderline imposter syndrome!” he laughs. “I think it just felt like climbing Everest to start; an Everest we had created with Better Weather. But every day we’d take steps towards the top– eventually we discovered there was higher ground and found something bigger and better than before” – and this statement is backed up by the album.
Packed with hooks from beginning to end, it’s a wonder how the band managed to choose which track to release as the first single. Even when things take a turn for the worse, the band manage to sound positive; ‘Moving Boxes’ details the breakdown of a relationship and the following untangling of lives with a chorus so catchy it’s one of the first ones you’ll want to replay, whilst ‘Spinning’ employs falsetto whoops to convey the elated feeling of falling for someone new. A slower track on the album is ‘Bruise’. “It was the hardest to write, and was originally meant to be on Better Weather, but it took me two more years to perfect it” remembers Jayden of the writing process. The extra time spent has paid off, with delicate beginnings building to an emotive crescendo that keeps it in pace with the rest of the album.
In comparison, the breezy and self-assured ‘Jaded’ was the easiest to write. “I wrote that in one afternoon on tour, where everything flowed out very quickly and organically”, and it’s evident in the way the carefree track tumbles along. Heavier track Icarus is a highlight of the record, treading lightly until the chorus falls into place, all shouted vocals and anger. “I wrote this song while we were on tour and I was listening to a bunch of Nirvana and Safe To Say” states guitarist and vocalist Inigo, “I really wanted a song that has a super bouncy and catchy verse but a straight forward and heavy chorus. I’ve also always loved the idea of writing songs that link to a story and the story of Icarus really went with the kind of message behind the song” he summarises. “I’m so excited about these songs,” confirms Jayden, with two tracks in particular the band are eager for fans to hear. “The Turnaround and Tails. Both are a new sound for us in different ways and I’m super proud of both.”
They definitely have the album to take them to the next level, and things are looking hopeful for bands from Australia all round. “When we started as a band was when we first started seeing the surge in Australian exportation. I think Australia brings something cool and fresh to the international market, which I think is so important in music’s evolution around the world” Jaden weighs in on the surge of pop-punk coming from the country. With the likes of 5 Seconds of Summer, Tonight Alive and Stand Atlantic achieving success worldwide, it makes sense that ‘Love and Loathing’ will be the album that sees With Confidence make big waves.
Post-release, the band will be making their way back to UK shores for a headline tour in September. “The UK has always been so good to us. Playing headline shows is always incredible because everyone is there because the songs mean as much to them as they do to us” says Jayden. The track he is most looking forward to playing live is Tails – “I already know it will be a very emotionally connecting few minutes” – whilst for Inigo it’s Icarus. “It’s so groovy, and Josh and I loved playing that at practice.”
So the fans have new material to look forward to hearing live on their headline run– what are the band excited about returning to the UK for? “Wetherspoons!” they both cheer, “definitely not the rain!” laughs Jayden, “I love British culture and the people so much.”
Check out the full tour dates below.
SEPTEMBER
21 NOTTINGHAM, Rescue Rooms
22 LONDON, The Garage
24 GLASGOW, King Tuts
25 MANCHESTER, Academy 3
26 BIRMINGHAM, Mama Roux
27 CARDIFF, The Globe