As Montreal rockers Yester Daze gear up for the release of their new EP “Nothing, Perfectly,” due May 10, we caught up with frontman Brandon McShad to discuss not only the nuances of their latest project but also the raw, emotive force driving this dynamic band.
Brandon describes the accidental genesis of recent single, “Holy Moly, This Is Who I Am,” saying, “It actually started as a jam… my amp had a defect… the tremolo glitched… I just started playing the main melody.” This moment of serendipity set the stage for the song’s creation, highlighting the band’s spontaneous and intuitive approach to music.
Brandon’s method is refreshingly unorthodox, as he admits, “I don’t have any theory, like training when it comes to writing songs. I’m purely… still have that drummer, almost like Dave Grohl mentality of like, okay, what sounds good? And then we’re just gonna run with it.”
The essence of “Holy Moly, This Is Who I Am” remained untouched from its inception to the studio. “Even once we got to the studio, there were no changes that were drastically made. The structure you hear is exactly how we played it.”
Brandon’s approach to lyrics is deeply personal. “I revisited old journal entries and old kind of scrapped lyrics for lack of a better word.” This introspective dive into past reflections is a crucial element in his songwriting, ensuring authenticity and emotional depth in their music. “The most memorable part most people tend to remember is the vocals and the lyrics,” he says, underlining the importance of a strong narrative and emotional connection in their songs. The focus on storytelling is a defining characteristic of Yester Daze, with extremely personal mental health struggles, including suicidal thoughts, as a recurring theme in Brandon’s lyrics.
“It’s cathartic… the suicide part is pretty much closed on my end… It’s nice too, because you see some people who’ve heard it enough that they’re singing it back a bit. I’ve always found our music should remain hopeful, just because I find it’s very easy, especially when you’re depressed, to kind of, you know, just fall into that void and feel hopeless.”
Watch the full interview below:
On the topic of musical influences, Brandon says, “We take so much influence from Foo Fighters and Muse and Royal Blood and stuff like Big Wreck… especially early Foo Fighters where I had that rough edgier kind of punkness hidden underneath.”
Brandon’s aspirations for the band are rooted in authenticity and connection. He dreams of “singing those songs and it feeling like a victory,” not just for himself but for his younger self who faced bullying and self-doubt.
The upcoming EP “Nothing, Perfectly,” along with their live performances, represents a new chapter for Yester Daze. Speaking about the themes of their upcoming work, Brandon doesn’t shy away from the heavier aspects. “One of them deals once again with my mental illnesses, and then there’s another song that has to do with more of a relationship thing.”
Brandon’s pride in their work is evident when he talks about his vocals. “If you think the vocals are great on ‘Holy Moly,’ then this song is a whole other level because that’s my proudest song. I think we’ve done is lyrically that song and even vocally.”
Yester Daze will play Montreal’s Petit Campus on 17 February with Hotel Mira.
