Sydney-based emo punk quintet Clay J Gladstone have been making quite the name for themselves these past few years. Today, the band have finally announced their debut album Is This How I Die?, out 1 November via Def Wolf Records, accompanied by new single “Why Does Everybody Hate Me?”. These details come as they prepare to support local legends Sienna Skies on their national tour kicking off the day after the record’s release.
Since their 2021 EP Dead Friends, Clay J Gladstone have shared a slew of singles, each catchier than the last. Featuring previous singalongs “Postmodern Teenage Angst”, “Death by Idle Hands” and “Talk of the Town”, Is This How I Die? follows their signature theme of erratically poignant lyrics over energetic punk rock jams. Produced by Shane Edwards (The Libertines, Trophy Eyes, You Me At Six), the latest offering “Why Does Everybody Hate Me?” juxtaposes a late night at the pub with the regretful morning after.
“The lyric ‘I lost control when I fell for you’ could easily be mistaken for a tragic heartbreak lyric,” explains vocalist Tim Wisbey. “It’s not. It’s my love letter to every night I’ve sat my arse in a dirty bar past the stroke of 12. Only to wake up the next morning sweating over the thought that everybody now hates me.”
In support of the announcement, we had a chat with Wisbey about the new single, debut album and more.
Congratulations on the announcement of your debut album! Before we dive into that, Clay J Gladstone has been active for a few years now. Can you tell us briefly about the history of the band?
We’ve been a band since 2020. I’ve known Matty, the guitarist, since high school. We had beef and sorted it out. So, we basically decided the gradual next step was to start a band. We had a few different members, but eventually found the dream team and here we are.
Having today announced the release of Is This How I Die?, could you describe the journey of creating this record and what has changed since your last EP Dead Friends?
It’s been a long time coming! We were ready to release an album in 2022. However, we were told by virtually everybody to wait and build as a band. Which looking back may have been sound advice. Although, I often wonder if we just released an album then we’d be talking about album 2 now, and apparently album 2 tends to blow up right haha? It worked out for the best though. We’ve had time to really fuck with some sounds and vibes and we think this album really encompasses what Clay J is. Clay J has a sound. Claycore.
“Why Does Everybody Hate Me?” is the fourth single from Clay this year. What was the decision behind making this track the lead single for the album?
Well, I guess we wouldn’t call it the lead single of the album. We feel the best is yet to come, if that’s a spoiler alert (though we’ve been wrong on that in the past haha). WDEHM is just an honest and very personal track about addiction. It felt right to announce this single with the album given the theme. We think it showcases a bit more of a polished yet still raw side of the band and the album. Perhaps an easy listen that most can get behind. But still having that Clay J grossness.
There’s an extreme sense of vulnerability in the lyrics of your songs. Was that kind of raw honesty key to writing Clay J Gladstone material early on, and is that something you look for in other artists?
I just write what I feel. My lyrics are pretty matter of fact. I think the opening line of this track is pretty telling haha. I don’t overthink things too much. I am a simple guy, I’m not trying to change the world. Music for me is just therapy, or perhaps to medicate my ADHD. To be honest when I listen to music, lyrics come last. I am more interested in the aesthetic of the sound. Which makes no sense as to why I care so much about lyrics for our own music.
Given the album’s title and tracklisting, it seems to be an exploration of mortality and past regret. Was this a theme you wanted before you started, or did it evolve as you wrote the record?
My father died when I was 19. I found myself writing a collection of songs about dealing with that situation and the ongoing anxiety and panic attacks that followed for many years to this day. You could say this is a concept album. Hopefully I can say that without sounding pretentious. But looking back and listening front to back it kind of is a journey of dealing with the grief. Fun fact though, one of the tracks on the album that is not “Is This How I Die?” was the initial album name. If you guess it, you win a free shirt. Tell us at a show.
You’ll also be embarking on a national tour supporting Sienna Skies with Of Virtue in November. How have you gone about putting a balanced setlist together?
Well, the setlist is easy. We’ll just play what we want. What has been challenging is chucking in some heavy metal guitar swings and crab bounces as a piss take (classic metal choreographed moves haha). So, we’ll either be loved or booed off stage haha. The Sienna dudes will love it at least.
Anyone who has been to a Clay show before knows what kind of energetic and even chaotic live show you put on. Why is that important, and is there an artist out there you admire for their energy?
What we do on stage is just organic. And yeah, I suppose chaotic. We don’t sit there and think about what we’re going to do. It just happens. I guess we’re just 5 guys that have an energy that goes well together. Or is perceived to go well haha. Sometimes I think we’re terrible. But hey if the punters are happy then who cares. The band members are all inspired by different artists. Perhaps our joint respect for The Dillinger Escape Plan, At the Drive In and The Used has mustered up some sort of demon.
Ideally, how would you want all of your listeners to hear Is This How I Die? for the first time? In the car, alone with headphones, at a party, doing housework?
Without a doubt, you need to lock yourself in a room with complete darkness with headphones and listen to it front to back. There is no other way.
“Why Does Everybody Hate Me?” is available to stream everywhere now. Is This How I Die? will be out 1 November via Def Wolf Records. Get your tickets to the Sienna Skies Australia tour before they sell out!
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