Interview: Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid

Photo by Aaron Schwartz

Today, we’re thrilled to present an interview with none other than Andrew Neufeld, the frontman of the Canadian hardcore punk powerhouse band Comeback Kid. Known for their relentless energy and raw authenticity, Comeback Kid has been a driving force on the worldwide hardcore punk scene since their inception. With a discography filled with anthems that ignite mosh pits worldwide, they continue to push boundaries and captivate audiences with each release.

In our conversation with Andrew, we delved into the band’s latest sonic offering, the “Trouble” EP, exploring its themes, sonic evolution, and the creative process behind it. Additionally, we talked about recently released singles, dissecting their significance and the stories behind them.

But our discussion doesn’t stop there. We also ventured into the songwriting and recording process, unraveling the intricacies of crafting their signature sound and poignant lyrics. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. How have you been?

Chillin! Just on a plane home back to Canada from Costa Rica where we finished a South American tour! It was super fun and the shows were nutty!

“Disruption” is described as a “call to arms” type song. Can you delve deeper into the emotions and experiences that inspired the lyrics?

It’s kind of just about having a chip on the shoulder and using that to say “fuck the world, I’m gonna do my own thing, MY own way.” It’s also about having adversity disrupt your life when you are seemingly in a good place but inevitably, things always happen and life gets in the way and our peace can be shaken in the blink of an eye.

How did you approach the songwriting process to achieve this unique blend of aggression and melody?

We have a few song writers in the band and these songs were a bit of a leap and departure from what we usually do so we were just having fun creatively and writing some lighter in mood type tracks.

“Trouble In The Winner’s Circle” was the first single from the EP. How did you choose this track to introduce the audience to the upcoming release, and what does it represent within the context of the EP?

It’s just a tongue and cheek “lyrically” fun type song IMO, and with an alt rock poppy feel ( in a hardcore context ) so we thought it was catchy and people might fuck with it. Which it seems they do so far!

The video for “Disruption” features footage from your recent European tour. How does capturing moments from live performances contribute to the overall narrative of the song and the band’s identity?

It’s pretty much just all the footage I had on hand that we could make a moving picture video out of. I just wanted to showcase our live shows and that is the backbone of who and what we are. Energetic shows with a lot of crowd participation. ( and I’m always sweating my ass off )

TROUBLE EP is a departure from past material, leaning more upbeat. What influenced the decision to take this direction, and how do you feel it reflects the band’s evolution?

This EP is not about our evolution and not necessarily the direction that CBK will go in. It’s just a bit of a departure like I said and we wanted to give the songs their own space to breathe and stage to shine on, with this EP.

Can you share some insights into the collaborative process of producing and recording the TROUBLE EP with John Paul Peters at Private Ear Recording?

TBH, not much collaboration. The music was recorded in studio A, and I did my vocals with another engineer in studio B. We worked a lot of the songs out on our own with pre production and brought it to life tracking w. JP and Derek who did the vocals w. me.

Pretty internal band collaboration in a rehearsal room or demoing at home.

Will Putney handled the mixing and mastering of the EP. How did his expertise contribute to shaping the sound, and what was the most rewarding aspect of working with him?

I WISH I could be in the mixing room with Will ( maybe next time ) but the dude is just a goat when it comes to big, heavy loud records. He brought a lot of the tones to life sonically and brought the mix where it needed to be. Would love to have him produce a record one day potentially!

With your origins in Winnipeg, Canada, how has your hometown influenced your music and identity over the years?

In the early days, Winnipeg just forced us to take on bigger trips because it wasn’t like we could do weekend rips like bands from the coasts or whatever. Wpg’s closest major city is Minneapolis and that’s a 9 hour drive. It forced us to work hard and get out there and stay out for longer periods of time. I haven’t lived in WPG for the last 16 years but Jeremy is still holding it down there and I appreciate the love we get when we have homecoming shows.

Throughout your career, you’ve balanced a DIY ethos while working with record labels. How do you find the right balance between artistic independence and collaboration with labels like SharpTone Records?

Record labels we use as tools to get our music out and to get support with getting assets together, getting press, getting our albums pressed, and getting our music online etc. We just started working with SharpTone ( which is essentially the same label as Nuclear Blast that we were on before ) and Jackie our A&R has been extremely helpful with guiding this release and giving good advice. I’ve loved working with them so far.

Comeback Kid has consistently broken down boundaries of the hardcore music. How do you approach innovation within the genre while staying true to your roots?

I have no idea tbh! Just do what we do, and treat everyone with respect and honour our roots!

Having released so many excellent albums over the years, how does the TROUBLE EP fit into the broader narrative of Comeback Kid’s discography?

It’s a deep dive for the die hards and a footnote in our journey. Just spreading the wings a bit!

As you embark on a packed touring schedule, what excites you the most about connecting with fans through live performances in 2024?

Honestly, people singing along, kicking the shit up and stage diving turns my crank.

Beyond the music, Comeback Kid has embraced a humanitarian approach. How do you incorporate this ethos into your work, and are there specific causes or messages you aim to convey through your music?

We just want to make everyone feel welcome and included. Human rights are important we strive to be better people for ourselves and for the community around us constantly.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything you would like to say to our readers and fans of the band?

Thank you so much for the interview! See you on the Canadian tour!

Source: thoughtswordsaction.com