Mit „Don’t Speak“ steht das langerwartete Debütalbum von Culture Wars in den Startlöchern und markiert einen entscheidenden Moment in der Karriere der aufstrebenden Alternative-Rock-Band aus Texas. Nach einem erfolgreichen Jahr mit starken Singles, internationalen Tourneen und wachsender Fanbase schlägt die Band nun ein neues Kapitel auf – musikalisch fokussierter, roher und näher an der Essenz ihrer Songs als je zuvor. Im Interview mit uns dem Frontstage Magazine spricht die Band über den Entstehungsprozess des Albums, die Einflüsse vergangener Tour-Erfahrungen und ihre Vorfreude auf die anstehende Europa-Tour, mit der sie ihre Musik erstmals einem noch größeren internationalen Publikum präsentieren werden.
Frontstage Magazine: Your debut album “Don’t Speak” is about to be released – what does this record mean to you both personally and artistically?
Culture Wars: It’s years of work for all of us. We finally made the album we wanted to make. It’s a nice moment.
Frontstage Magazine: How has your sound evolved compared to your previous releases, and what makes “Don’t Speak” a new chapter for Culture Wars?
Culture Wars: We focused on song first for this album. Forcing ourselves to write with only two elements – vocal and guitar/piano. Once the song could stand on it’s own, it enabled us to make the music whatever we wanted, which ended up being more rock. Very happy.
Frontstage Magazine: Songs like “It Hurts” and “Typical Ways” have already gained a lot of attention – how have these successes influenced the creation of the album?
Culture Wars: I wouldn’t say it’s influenced the creation of the album. It’s certainly fueled the trajectory though. It’s enabled us to be here today with an album
Frontstage Magazine: You’ve recently toured with acts like Keane, Wallows, and LANY – what lessons from those experiences made their way into the album?
Culture Wars:Two parts to that – I think we learn a lot from the bands and their crew. How to run a show, build a set, tour sustainably. The biggest piece though would be the realization that we’d be touring our first album for 2-3 years at least. It really stuck with us and in combo with playing these larger shows, influenced us to rewrite the entire second half of the album.
Frontstage Magazine: With your upcoming UK and European tour, you’re reaching an even wider international audience – what are you most excited about for these shows?
Culture Wars:Really the travel and the people. We’re going to places most of us have never even visited before. Playing shows is always the thrill and highlight, but I love exploring new cities – getting coffee and food. Popping into a good museum. Excited.
Frontstage Magazine: Your live performances are known for their intensity and emotion – how do you plan to translate the energy of “Don’t Speak” onto the stage?
Culture Wars: It works because it’s the band. We just rehearse it into the ground and then let the band do what they do best.
Headliner-Tourdates USA
14.05. Seattle, WA @ The Croc
15.05. San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop *SOLD OUT*
16.05. Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
21.05. Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
22.05. Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
23.05. Dallas, TX @ Trees
30.05. Mexiko-Stadt, MX @ Foro Puebla
31.05. Monterrey, MX @ Foro Tims
UK + EU Tourdates
18.06. Birmingham, UK @ TBD
19.06. London, UK @ The Garage
21.06. Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
22.06. Glasgow, UK @ King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
23.06. Bristol, UK @ Thekla
25.06. Dublin, IE @ Whelan’s
26.06. Barcelona, ES @ Razzmatazz
27.06. Madrid, ES @ Sala Villanos
29.06. Paris, FR @ Petit Bain
12.07. Hamburg, DE @ Molotow
13.07. Kopenhagen, DK @ Rust
14.07. Stockholm, SE @ Debaser
16.07. Berlin, DE @ Mikropol
17.07. Warschau, PL @ Hydrozagadka
19.7. Prag, CZ @ Bike Jesus
21.7. Wien, AT @ Szene
22.7. München, DE @ Strom
24.7. Mailand, IT @ Q Hub
Fotocredit: Alumcover / Artwork
