Long Island punk the way it should be. Forming in the summer of 2015, guitarist Jesse Litwa, drummer Chris Arena, and bassist Mike Bruno were just looking for something new to do, and that something turned into Adult Magic. The scene in Long Island is small, and they had seen the likes of each other for a while from playing in bands Iron Chic, Broadcaster, Crow Bait, and Sister Kisser. They’ve done it before, but this time it’s different. 

“This is the most collaborative,” shares Litwa. “All three of us sing and write lyrics, and for me, that was something really cool, because in my past bands, I was the main lyricist and songwriter. It’s a cool, different thing to share that with two other people, together.” 

After their debut self-titled album was released in 2019, it took another seven years before we saw the follow up. But what a release it is. Are You Even Happy Now? Is out in the world via Bruno’s Dead Broke Rekerds and picks up right where the band left off.  

“It was more relaxed,” explains Bruno. “We recorded the second album here at my house and spent as much time as we wanted on it. Tweaking it, getting it right. Whereas the last one, although it came out great, I personally would have liked a little more time. In the studio, we’re running out of time, so we were just able to take our time with this one and get it exactly how we wanted it.” 

Litwa doesn’t believe there’s much of a challenge when writing for three vocalists, but more during the live show, making sure everyone is balanced as leads. The more the band kept playing, the more it developed, and it’s the strongest and most cohesive it’s ever been on this new record. 

“It’s all different per person, since we’re all writing different lyrics,” shares Bruno. “There’s kind of a somber, but uplifting feeling to this record.” 

“It’s certainly reflective of the times, whether we intended it to be,” adds Arena. “We were writing this through the pandemic, through loss, through two of us getting married. There are all kinds of changes in life, and I think the record, whether we intended it to or not, just naturally flexed that.” 

Sure, having three lyricists and songwriters working together can lead to some disagreements, but generally, they were always on the same page and just looking to find the balance between them. Part of that balance, too, is forging a path for the future of the band. The plan is to dedicate more time to each other, but also not take too long until the next era.  

“This is a band where the time between records doesn’t really matter,” admits Arena. “We’re three friends; we’re doing it for the love of what we’re doing. I don’t see us stopping anytime soon, and we’re also not thinking in terms of a career, but more in terms of how we get to do this. We’re just writing songs in the basement and putting them out into the world.” 

Yes, seven years is a long time, but people get a little too caught up in the cycle of music and how it works, instead of realizing there really is no time limit to art. Litwa boils it down into one simple sentence. 

“You can’t expect anything other than to enjoy what you’re doing with the people you’re doing it with. If it’s not fun, then what’s the point?” 

Are You Even Happy Now? is out now, and you can order it from Dead Broke Rekerds. Follow Adult Magic on Facebook and Instagram for future updates.

Photo Credit: Dan Brenner