Q&A: 19&YOU Talks Self-Titled EP, Songwriting, Love & Growth
A BAND EXPLORING THEMSELVES AMIDST GROWTH — 19&YOU is a band navigating the disarray of growing up and becoming your own person. Luckily, they share a tight brotherhood bond — they're not going through this alone, and they have the support from fans who feel their authenticity through their songs.
Their self-titled EP consists of 7 tracks that explore vulnerability, heartbreak, and a much-needed metamorphosis. The majority of the EP was written in Australia, where the band (Cam, Liam, and Jack) were studying abroad while Noah came to visit. All going through similar shared experiences, 19&YOU was born. Each song describes the different feelings towards the experiences that life drops on you. Songs like “JUST FRIENDS” and “RUNNIN’” both detail the doubt one has when they are getting to know someone, not feeling adequate enough. The opening track “PART OF YOU” is nostalgic and reminiscent of a past life that once seemed promising, however is seen through rose-colored glasses. “19&YOU” is their most significant song, as the band feels the most attached to the track. The making of the song is deemed very special to the band, so much that they decided to name it after the band name itself! “19&YOU” describes the whirlwind of emotions that comes with unconditionally loving someone.
Take a look at what 19&YOU have to say about their self-titled debut EP, their most memorable songs, and their special time spent in Australia. With lists of ongoing praise, the band has so much more in store for the following year, so make sure to keep an eye out for them!
LUNA: First off, huge congrats on the release of your self-titled EP! How do you all feel?
19&YOU: Thank you! We’re really excited that people get to hear these songs that we adore and have been working so hard on. It feels surreal to have them out in the world.
LUNA: Which song off the EP would you guys love to experience creating again?
19&YOU: If we could go back and experience writing a song again it would “19&YOU.” It was the song that really started our band. We connected with the song so much that we named ourselves after it. We wrote this while Noah — our producer and keys player — was visiting the rest of us in Australia. It was one of those songs that just came together effortlessly. We were all experiencing heartbreak at the same time and spent our nights cooped up in a Sydney highrise having some of the most fun nights of our lives. We have incredible memories of the fresh experience writing with Noah and trying new things. After we wrote “19&YOU” we hopped in Jack’s junky CRV and “car tested” the song. We drove down Coogee Beach with a new friend and new music — it was so special. We all look back on those nights very fondly.
LUNA: What was it like collaborating with Carlie Hanson and the process of “PART OF YOU”?
19&YOU: Working with Carlie was an absolute blast. We met her through our friend Mick Coogan who co-wrote “PART OF YOU” with us. It’s always nerve-wracking having an artist come on a song, because you get so attached to the first version. At the same time, you also want the artist to express themselves and add their own flavor. That being said, we were completely blown away when we got the first version back from Carlie. She elevated the song and took it to a level we never thought possible. Our friend, Johnny Esparza, filmed and directed to the video for it. Carlie was super easy-going and helped make the environment so fun; she has become a good friend of ours.
LUNA: Out of all 7 tracks, which has the softest spot in each of your hearts?
19&YOU: “19&YOU,” because it was a song that made starting a band a real idea and dream, rather [than] something we were doing passively for fun.
LUNA: Between Australia and LA, which had more of an effect on your creative process?
19&YOU: We wrote most of the EP in Australia, so it definitely affected more of our creative process for this first EP! Since three of us were studying there from the states, Sydney wasn’t a permanent home and so there was an eventual transition of moving back home to the states. Around the time we wrote the EP, we all went through breakups from long-term relationships. We named the band 19&YOU because we were experiencing so much transition or impending transition, and the song is about that.
LUNA: You guys have received a lot of praise from the singles you’ve released, from MTV to being featured on Zane Lowe’s Pop Chill playlist on Apple Music (among many others). Which would you say made you stop and realize, “Woah, this is actually real and happening”?
19&YOU: It was definitely a huge honor to be featured on Zane Lowe and a surreal experience. We’ve had a ton of support from the beginning which is absolutely a dream come true. We’re super thankful for the people that listen and support our music. I would say the first time where it really hit was when we signed with 3V Method a couple months after our first release. They quickly built an amazing team around us to push the music — they’re some of our biggest champions.
LUNA: What artists, bands, or genres would you all say has influenced your sound and the way you guys write and produce your music?
19&YOU: We love Coldplay — how they create emotional ballads but also massive songs that sonically fill stadiums. We pull inspiration from Troye Sivan and Rascal Flatts for lots of vocal leads and melodies. We think any young, modern band would be lying if they didn’t mention The 1975 as an influence — they’re incredible writers and live performers.
LUNA: Would you guys agree that the best written songs are those influenced by love or heartbreak?
19&YOU: A lot of people connect to breakup songs because they're so relatable, but other emotional experiences can be just as powerful. Love songs definitely do come the easiest to us because of our experiences around the time we wrote our first EP. We think the best songs are vulnerable and honest, authenticity is valuable to us.
LUNA: What can we expect from you guys in the future?
19&YOU: We’re going to be consistently releasing music until the end of the year and we’re planning on doing a tour when at all possible! Live shows are something we’re constantly preparing for and talking about. All of us are musicians at heart — we're desperate to get on stage and play these songs.
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