Fox Reviews Rock

Introduction

Blending Pop-Punk, Post-Hardcore and Alternative Years Down really are a treat for the ears. If you’re into early 2000’s Pop-punk then this is for you! With that nostalgic feeling combined with aggressive tones it creates quite the effect.

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Interview

What made you cover “Stay” by Justin Bieber? (We think you improved it massively btw!)

Years Down – “Thank you, we appreciate that! Between you and me, we think we improved it massively too. Though it’s funny to think about the royalties going to Bieber and Kid Laroi every time it streams. Sometimes we hear a song and think, ‘What if that had a breakdown?’ and then just try it out to see if it clicks.

‘Stay’ definitely clicked. And we’re working on a cover of ‘Standing Still’ by Jewel—yeah, a deep cut, but it’s been a blast. We’re always looking for songs no one else has really touched but have that hidden banger potential.”

Your 2023 album is called “December State of Mind.” What does it mean? (Please tell us you don’t hate Christmas!)

Years Down – “I mean, not all of us hate Christmas… that’s a long story. The title actually comes from the lyrics of ‘Better Off,’ and it just fit the vibe of the album. The singer and I both deal with seasonal affective disorder (a.k.a. ‘big s.a.d’), so winter months tend to be tough. ‘December State of Mind’ just sums up that mental place where things can get a bit rough in the colder months.”

Do you have any plans to tour the UK? If so, when?

Years Down – “Absolutely! I’ve been to the UK a few times and loved it—Camden in London is unreal. And Hertfordshire’s where Enter Shikari’s from, who are legends in my book. We’d love to get out there! It really depends on the next album and the demand, but it’s on the list for sure.”

Your song “Better Off” is a banger! Who is it about?

Years Down – “Thanks! ‘Better Off’ is about those times when you’re so wrapped up in someone or something it becomes part of your identity. Lines like ‘I’m better off dead than without you’ and ‘what do you do when the scars define who you are’ capture that struggle of not knowing who you are without them. It’s raw, sometimes ugly attachment, but at the core, it’s about finding a reason to keep pushing forward.”

Where did the idea for the band’s name come from?

Years Down – “That’s always an interesting one because I think it hits each of us differently. You could look at it as ‘Years Down the road’ in life, but for me, it’s more like spending ‘Years Down’ in a rough headspace. Since we sing a lot about love, loss, addiction, and mental health, it just felt like the right fit.”

From your album, can you explain why you’re allergic to capital letters? (Apart from the final track, which sent my OCD into haywire!)

Years Down – “First, we’re sorry—sort of. Actually, The Maxwell House Theme Song and Fading Faster do have capitals, so it’s the last two that might balance out your OCD… or maybe not. The first five tracks are the original EP, and we liked the lowercase aesthetic; it was our way of saying we don’t take ourselves too seriously. It’s our own version of ‘perfectly imperfect’.”

If you don’t mind, I’d love to compare you to A Day To Remember. Are they an influence of yours? If not, who would you say are your biggest influences?

Years Down – “We’re honored by that comparison! For Halloween, we actually played as A Day To Remember for a ‘Night of the Living Cover Bands’ show, which was a blast. They’re a huge influence on us, so thank you. We even opened for them (on the B stage, but hey, we’ll take it) at our local station’s Big Gig. Most bands in the easycore scene are big influences, especially Belmont, Four Year Strong, The Story So Far, The Wonder Years, and of course, Blink-182. We grew up on that late-2000s pop-punk, so it all blends into our sound.”

Which of your songs do you enjoy playing live the most, and why?

Years Down – “Big s.a.d. is one of my favorites because of the glitch effects I get to throw in, plus it’s the first song I wrote for the band, so it’s got a special place in my heart. Anything with heavy breakdowns is always a win too—nothing beats seeing the crowd go wild and mosh pits form.”

Who comes up with all the names for the songs (which are hilarious!)

Years Down – “Griff handles most of the lyric-writing and heavy lifting there. Him and I toss ideas back and forth until we land on something we both like—or at least can tolerate without arguing about it. Keeping things interesting is key.”

If you could change a song of yours, which one would it be, and what would you change?

Years Down – “After this interview, I’m starting to think maybe we should capitalize all the songs on December State of Mind just for the OCD folks out there. Jokes aside, I’d leave them as they are. Not because I think they’re perfect, but because each song marks a chapter in our story, and it’s cool to have that timeline. Sure, there are production tweaks I’d love to make, but all that lands in the new stuff anyway, so it’s all good.”

Which bands from the Denver music scene are you friends with? Can we expect any collaborations?

Years Down – “Definitely! Denver’s music scene is buzzing right now. We’ve got great relationships with bands like The Losers Club, HRZN, Relate., Capture This, Bury Mia, and Suitable Miss. Collaborations? Let’s just say stay tuned. Denver’s music community is tight-knit and full of talent, and we’re all about making noise together.”

You mention on your Spotify bio that we can expect an EP soon, My Condolences. When can we jam to that?!

Years Down – “It’s coming in the next few months, right in that sweet spot where anticipation is high and patience is wearing thin. Keep hitting refresh on your favorite streaming platform, and follow our socials and stay tuned: @YearsDownBand”

If you had to visit another planet, which one would it be and why?

Years Down – “Mars. I’ve always been fascinated by space, and if they ever need a recovering addict to test out space travel, I’d volunteer. Call it The Martian, but with more self-reflection.”

What’s the best part about being in a band?

Years Down – “Living the dream of endless road trips, questionable diner coffee, and wondering if this gas station hot dog will be our last. Oh, and seeing people scream our lyrics back at us—that’s a feeling like no other.”

What’s the worst part about being in a band?

Years Down – “Ever tried sleeping upright in a van next to three dudes and their Taco Bell regrets? It’s a very specific kind of torture. And the group chats that just never end? Let’s just say it’s not all glam.”

I’m loving the little ghost mascot. What was the idea behind that, and who came up with it? (Does the mascot have a name?)

Years Down – “Honestly, the ghost just kind of appeared one day, like it was haunting us and decided to stick around. No deep origin story—someone probably doodled it, and we agreed it looked chill and moody, like it just understood us on a spiritual level. We’re calling it ‘Lil Boo Thang’ for now, but maybe it’ll reveal its true name when it’s ready.”

All rights to songs in this interview are retained by Years Down. This site claims not rights over them. All photos were provided by Years Down and taken by Morgan Elizabeth Media.