Upside Down is a Pop Punk band established in Madrid since 2014. After only three years they have released two EP’s: If Things Keep Moving On (2015) and Not As Good As You Expected (2016). During this time they have toured all over Spain with great acceptance by the national scene and they have shared stage with international bands such as ROAM.
After three years of making music and two EP’s behind their backs,the Spanish Pop Punk band Upside Down release their first full length album Scars Are Forever which has been recorded at Wheel Sound Studios (Barcelona, Spain) and mastered in Yes Studios (Nashville, United States). This album is a new and modern approach to the sound of Pop Punk and Emo from the 2000’s that comes from the mix of catchy melodies inspired by the early Fall Out Boy years and instrumentals that remind of bands like Neck Deep or The Wonder Years. Scars Are Forever has been a turning point in the search for a personal sound and the band hope it brings something new to the table. Upside Down will be presenting their debut album next February in their native country Spain and they have plans to play in some European cities in the Summer of 2018.Scars Are Forever is released on 12th December. Check out Good Riddance below from the debut album.
We managed to catch up with the band as they talk about the upcoming release and more!
So how pumped are you for Scars Are Forever?
We are pretty excited to show people this project, we have worked on it for a long time and we are kinda nervous to see how they react to it.
What’s your favourite track from the release?
Quique:
I want to show Red Letter Days in a proper way, it’s a song with a strong meaning and it’s different from what we usually do. In general I think it’s a big step in our evolution with this album.
Alex:
My favourite one is Sixteen due to the history behind that song. It really meant a lot to me to write it and have it included in this album.
Angel:
Red Letter Days is, in my opinion, the song that shows the evolution of our music compared to what we have done in the past.
David:
Addicted.
Can you tell us something about the album nobody knows about?
In the beginning, the album had 13 tracks but we felt that there were some songs that felt weaker than the final 10 songs that made it to the album. Very few people has listened to those 3 extra songs and we hope it remains like this.
How is this release different from your previous EPs?
There has been much more work behind this album, we have spent a lot of time in the making of the album and you can see it in the little details. This CD is deeper in a musical level it sounds more mature.
There has been more implication on every aspect, artwork, mix, master, merch, videos…everything. This has been possible because we have worked with great professionals that allowed us to give the best of us.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
Quique:
I would like to work with Oliver Sykes. He has been very important for music in these last years for me (musically speaking) and I think he would give a very personal touch to our music.
Alex:
For me, it would be great to record a new song with Neck Deep. They really seem like kind people to work with and they are one of my favourite pop punk bands nowadays.
Angel:
It would be a pleasure for me to work with anyone in 30 Seconds To Mars, albums like A Beautiful Lie were very important for me in a musical level and I would be more than pleased to help creating something that comes from them.
David:
It want to work with Bring Me The Horizon, I love their new stuff.
What’s the pop punk scene like in Spain?
Even though it’s a very small collective and this is not its best moment, there’s a unity in it and you can see it on every show or festival. The idea of supporting the local bands is always there and although sometimes it doesn’t seem to be like, there’s always help that keeps band like us doing what we love.
Will you be touring in the UK next year?
We will be very happy if we could play abroad, especially in UK. It will depend on the album’s reception and our financial situation on that moment.
If you could play at any venue in the world, where would it be and why?
It would not be a specific venue, we would love to play in a big stadium, watching a massive place filled with people that is listening to your music…It has to be amazing!
What was the first gig you ever attended?
Quique:
I remember going to a Dover’s gig in 2007.
Alex:
It was Green Day in Madrid in 2009. I will never forget that show.
Angel:
The first show I remember going was in 2002, it was the gig of a spanish band called El Canto del Loco.
David:
El Canto del Loco in 2009.