Essex Pop Punk band Safe Side recently release their new EP Blossom. The sophomore release, are a collection of highly infectious tuneage which successfully blends the band’s pop punk roots with elements of Alternative rock, and vocalist Frank Yates’ distinctly home-grown delivery. The lads are playing Landslide Festival in Brentwood next month among over a couple more gigs in what will be an exciting year for the lads. Listen to the epic In My Place from the lads below.
We managed to catch up with Callum Tuffen and Chris Smart from Safe Side about their latest release, fans, inspirations and more!
Are you guys looking forward to the release of Blossom?
Callum: We’ve been looking forward to releasing ‘Blossom’ for so long now! It’s our first studio EP and it seems like it was ages ago that we started writing and recording the tracks for it. There were a lot of ups and downs throughout the process of Blossom, but we’re all happy with it.
What’s going to be different about this release?
Callum: On this release we all came together and discussed each track in depth, whereas on our previous release we were still getting to know each other and trying to find our sound. We tried to incorporate a slower feel in this EP as well as our usual upbeat side, there’s also some pretty heavy parts too.
What would you say to your fans that go to gigs and listen your music?
Callum: We’re so thankful for anyone that comes out to see us and support us, even if it’s just a crowd of like five people. So yeah, thanks to anyone that has listened to our music or came to one of our shows! It means a lot.
What music inspires you guys?
Callum: We have a varied taste in music that has developed us as musicians and played a part in forming the tracks. We’re into the big bands in the scene at the minute like Neck Deep and Knuckle Puck, but also smaller up and coming bands like Creeper.
How has the release of In My Place been?
Chris: The release of ‘In My Place’ has been great. It was good to see and read people’s reaction to our more mature, together sound. It’s noticeably different from the last material we released and it’s a very obvious difference but everyone has been very supportive and seem to like the progression.
How difficult is it to be noticed with so many bands releasing new music every day?
Chris: It’s not just the fact of so many bands releasing music every day, as much as a very saturated Pop Punk scene. It’s booming with a lot of great up and coming bands and I’d be lying if I said it’s not hard to get noticed, because it is. We’ve really struggled to fight our way out of our corner in Essex. There is barely any scene for bands to support one another and see fast growth, but we’re not giving in and people are coming round.
What would you say to your fans that go to gigs and listen to your music?
Chris: I’d just say thank you. In this generation, everything is consumed at such a fast rate and readily available at the tap of a screen. So if anyone listens to our music or engages with it on a level where they come to see us, we really, really appreciate it.
What music inspires you guys?
Chris: We as a band are influenced by a vast amount of music, ranging from Post Rock to Punk and Metalcore.
Where would you like to see yourselves in 5 years’ time?
Chris: I think I speak for us all when I say, just playing shows. We love playing live; we have a good time and see it as a release. Live music is the best and we’re in a band mostly for that. So just playing shows to fans of our music. Maybe an album under the belt, but you never know. We just take every day as it comes and have fun.
Have you got any plans for a full length tour to support the new record?
Chris: Unfortunately not. We would love to tour in support of the EP and we’re gutted we haven’t got the opportunity to do so. Work commitments and other arrangements mean we’re having to just play as many shows as we can get. 22nd July – Bassment – Chelmsford, 13th August – Landslide Festival – Brentwood, 14th August – Live It Up Festival – Northampton.