Review by Annie Barber.
Derek DiScanio, Ryan Scott Graham, Tyler Szalkowski, and Evan Ambrosio make up pop-punk band State Champs from Albany, NY, and are set to release their fifth album later this year.
‘Light Blue’, the latest single from their upcoming self-titled album, indulges loud punky vocals over an energetic track. If you like Blink-182 and Fall Out Boy, then this might be your kind of thing. State Champs blends in with these pop-punk giants and have crafted their own sound which fits neatly into the genre.
The single employs punk’s signature honesty, lamenting “It looks like I’ll be sleeping in/ Déjà vu keeps creeping in,” in the pre-chorus. Lines like, “I can tap in a rebound with somebody new in your old seat,” further demonstrate the influence of the aforementioned pop-punk acts on State Champs’ work. However, the verses have undertones of country music, owing to the song’s main inspiration: Dan + Shay’s ‘Tequila’. The melodies and storytelling in ‘Light Blue’ were influenced by this track, most importantly the concept of a certain smell bringing back memories.
The beachside setting and use of warm summer hues in the music video for ‘Light Blue’ match the upbeat sound of the song, but contrast with the sadness of the lyrics. DiScanio is the only person shown on camera, bringing home the fact that the track is about being alone and missing a previous love. Shots where the frontman’s face appears in a mirror on the ground, and several low-angle shots with the sky behind him and his chain dangling toward the camera, lift the video creatively.
Make sure to check out the band’s self-titled album which will be released on the 8th of November, and catch them when they go on their UK and European tour in February 2025.
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