It’s unbelievable to think that Ocean Avenue was released 11 years ago. Time definitely flies and to get to where they are now is an incredible journey for Yellowcard. With their anticipated and upcoming album, Lift A Sail, on its way for release, rest assured fans are expecting something undeniably incredible.
The band have been through crazy highs and crazy lows and one thing’s for sure that their drive in making music with so much passion and integrity has lead them to become one of the most successful pop punk/alternative rock bands in the music scene. The stories they have told through their songs have impacted so many people around the world and the thought of others missing out on the greatness of this band is actually pretty devastating.
Being a Yellowcard fan myself, talking with the violinist, Sean Mackin, was an opportunity of a lifetime and to have witnessed and listened to his experiences with the recording process of Lift A Sail, it also gave me a chance to see the amount of goodwill he had as a musician and the growing and maturing he has had being the only band member left of the original Yellowcard lineup.
A few weeks ago, just shy of the beginning of September, Sean’s daughter, Madelyn Anne Mackin was born into the world. For a tiny human being, it was encouraging to say the least that she was in the arms of a wonderful, caring and thoughtful father.
“The first few weeks of fatherhood have been amazing. I’m so grateful and lucky to have her. She’s definitely a bundle of joy and I can’t wait to watch her grow. I strive to be the best possible father because it’s made me so overjoyed to have a family of my own and I just want what’s best for her.”
Having released four tracks off their new record, I mentioned to Sean that the response by fans was so well-received. With the sweet and sentimental nature of “One Bedroom”, the electrifying vibes from “Crash The Gates” and the upbeat, alternative-rock pace of both “Make Me So” and “Transmission Home”, he felt nothing but great honour.
“It’s very fulfilling to have witnessed the positive reactions by fans. I feel like Lift A Sail plays a special role for Yellowcard and the fact that we have taken an entirely different approach to the making of it. It’s also overwhelming to say the least because we do strive to make songs that connect with fans and we feel like we’ve achieved that as a band. I believe that once the new record is released, people will appreciate the passionate attitude we have put across into the making of these songs. I’m really looking forward to it.”
He then elaborated more on the recording process and the formation of Lift A Sail. In regards to the new tracks released, it’s definitely showcased a heavy alternative rock focus.
“The record definitely gives off quite a different vibe to what Yellowcard is all about. I think it’s because as a band we want to make sure it’s something we’re proud of. With inspirations coming from Nirvana and Pearl Jam and other bands, we do feel like we’re focusing more on the alternative rock genre as opposed to the pop punk side of things. Now that I’m 35, I feel like our music has matured over the years and it’s really satisfying to see the band grow in each album. It’s unbelievable to say the least cause I couldn’t imagine myself back then doing this type of thing but I absolutely love making music and to be part of a band that helps me do that is why I’m so, so grateful.”
With the likes of The Smashing Pumpkins, Jon Hopkins and Third Eye Blind, I couldn’t help but ask what the story was behind the amazing compilation of songs on Spotify that inspired the band in the making of Lift A Sail. After listening to that playlist, I felt like it captured the essence of the new record.
“The Spotify playlist did in fact help us keep our inspiration going which is what helped us form the record in the first place. I feel like the music in there just provides a special connection towards the production of the record because it gave us the opportunity to build on what has already been created by the music we all grew up listening to. There was a lot of creativity put across and for us to make reflections on songs we have appreciated, just made the whole recording process a lot easier. To be able to listen to songs from that playlist was awesome because I feel like it has influenced the sound of Lift A Sail and the transformation to what it is. I hope fans can see that and make connections to it when they first hear the record.”
It’s true what they say that experiences shape the way we are. With Sean’s battle with thyroid cancer back in 2011, Ryan Key’s wife having a tragic fall in 2013 and Longineu’s sudden departure from the band in March of this year, Sean agreed that these experiences helped contribute towards the emotional feel for Lift A Sail.
“I feel like these experiences have shaped this record and that it has provided us with the chance to just make these experiences into stories of our own. I don’t write the songs, Ryan does and really, he’s been the narrator for Yellowcard since 1999. He’s been through a lot. We’ve all been through a lot but I guess these experiences have changed us for the better and creating these songs based on these experiences has lead us into the journey of making such a personal record. It’s a stepping stone to emphasise what Yellowcard are about and we believe that the stories we tell through our own songs is what keeps us going. It is what maintains our passion for music.”
When it comes to the making of a new record, it’s safe to say that it takes a lot of commitment and appreciation to understand what the tracks are really about. I was genuinely interested in what song he felt most connected with in the new release and he made an interesting choice.
“The song that I feel most closest to in the record is “MSK”. Because the recording of this song was an entirely unique approach, I feel so at home with it. It doesn’t have any guitars in it and I feel like fans will appreciate it for what it is. The band have thoughtfully approached each track and for this one to be part of the record, it’s honestly something that I feel is an achievement itself. We’ve taken a lot more musical risks for this record but I’m really excited for it and this shouldn’t be looked down upon. It’s always much more satisfying to just experiment with things and see where the road takes you. I’ve learnt that from making music and I feel it’s contributed a lot towards the development and growth of Yellowcard.”
As mentioned earlier in this article, Sean is the last remaining member of the original Yellowcard lineup. Sometimes going through change isn’t easy but it was honestly inspiring to get his perspective on how he dealt with change and what got him through.
“Being the remaining member of the original Yellowcard line-up, it hasn’t been easy dealing with these changes but I’ve learnt to accept them. Being in a band is ultimately something I’m honestly grateful for and to be the violinist is such an honour and privilege in itself. The changes that have happened in my life is something I like to look back upon and I’ve accepted the fact that in life nothing ever remains the same. I have no regrets and I’m just really happy to have things turn out the way they have for me right now. I’m a strong believer that music has ultimately been something that has just impacted my life and I’m not one to dwell on the past. I like to see it as potential of doing something great.”
At this stage, I knew for a fact that Sean has witnessed so many amazing experiences in his life with Yellowcard and I was genuinely interested in what made this journey so special for him.
“The fans have definitely made the Yellowcard journey something special. They appreciate the music we create and it’s what truly warms my heart. We’ve all worked for this and I think that without our fans, we would not be able to make music and we wouldn’t get the opportunity to see the world for what it is. Being in a band, you witness all these experiences and it’s honestly indescribable. I feel like when it comes to our live shows especially, it’s like we’re all family and those are the moments on stage where I feel on top of the world. It’s a beautiful thing to realise that fans, new and old, support our endeavours and I think for me, the fans have definitely made my journey with Yellowcard special.”
2008 seems so long ago but it was from that year Yellowcard announced their indefinite hiatus which left many fans (including myself) devastated. Needless to say, I asked Sean if he felt like it was a time of self-discovery and learning for him and he agreed. With what I’ve learnt from this band, it’s the ongoing passion for music that has made them who they are today and it’s incredible to say the least that Sean, Ryan K, Ryan M and Josh will go at great lengths with Lift A Sail. Music makes the world go round but when it comes to Yellowcard, they are my world.
“Going on an indefinite hiatus was a very hard time for myself and the band. It was really sad that I couldn’t play music anymore and seriously, I felt like it was the end of Yellowcard. We were on the brink of breaking up and during that period of time, it was honestly devastating, Even though it was a sad period when the band stopped making music, it definitely was a time where I was able to focus on myself and the relationships I had with my family.”
“I married the love of my life during the hiatus and it made me realise what things truly matter in life. When you’re in a band, it takes a lot of commitment and sometimes, you’re on the road for so long that you just feel homesick and just want to be with your loved ones because that’s where your heart lies. When I look back at 2008, it has definitely made me realise the importance of spending time with your loved ones and appreciating the moments you have when you’re on the road to self-discovery. Nothing in life comes easily and I think what I’ve learnt the most is to be happy with what you have and just appreciate all the little things in life.”
“Yellowcard’s hiatus in my eyes was not seen as failure, and truth be told, it was more of a blessing for us because many positive things came about after it. It’s taught me a lot in trusting myself and to realise that if you’re truly passionate about music, nothing will hold you back from creating it. You will always find a way to go back to your true calling in life and for me, that was music.”
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Lift A Sail will be available October 10 via Razor & Tie/ Cooking Vinyl Australia
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