A sophomore album can be difficult. To better the first album, after the excitement and hype surrounding the music, can be pressuring. However, Los Angeles band Massage have taken a quantum leap on their second record, Still Life, out in August via Mt.St.Mtn, resurrecting nostalgia while progressing the modern approach in every way possible.
The second Massage record depicts and describes shy love and quietly nursed heartbreak during the late summer evenings, as the shadows linger in. The band capture a hasty, short time in the late ’80s, between post-punk and alt-rock, and are the perfect indie band to replicate summer romance at a specific point in history.
“We are our own favorite band,” says bassist Alex Naidus. “We love what we do, and the band has improved so much on this record, that just makes us enjoy the whole process even more. We find the editing process so much tougher now, as we realized what sound we were chasing and what we wanted to become, which we couldn’t put our finger on prior to making Still Life.”
Naidus is full of pride and optimism reflecting on the record. Capturing and creating the soundtrack to a period that was so specific was a direction that was crying to be pursued creatively for Massage. Still Life comes at a time when the band’s songwriting, production, and concept has undoubtedly reached a new level.
“We made a record we wanted to buy, how our favorite records make us feel that is what we want to accomplish,” says guitarist Andrew Romano. “This record feels like the band we always thought of ourselves as being, and that is so satisfying. We don’t want to make it big. We are aware of the sound we are making, but essentially, we want that specific audience to connect with this album, we want this record to reach those people and I’m sure it will.”
Massage are a band that know exactly what they want, and this time around they have done everything to achieve it. Authenticity runs thick on this album, it is a record that has been placed so specifically to sit at a place in history. Still Life is so pure and full of emotion, it begs for attention, and Massage make sure the record transports the listener to exactly where they wish they were.
Naidus further explains the faithful concept running through the album.
“Realism in the name of the game,” he says. “To have this album out for ourselves is amazing, and if people recognize it, it’s so humbling and heartwarming for us to see. This band isn’t about anything else than making music and having fun, and hoping that people respond. The creative process isn’t pressurized, and that definitely comes through in the music.”
“Massage is a definition of our lives and friendship, as well as being a creative output,” Naidus adds.
Massage is everything to its members, and when you connect with the music, it’s understandable just how much thought, time, and work went into this album. Naidus’ final comments are on creating the band’s artistic vision in such a vast and ever-changing modern musical world.
“New bands energize me just as much as old bands, great music is timeless,” he says. “There is not enough time to listen to everything, and we formed our influences from where we invested our time. This record represents us, and that will remain when it’s released, and in years to come.”
Listen to the latest and final single from Still Life, “At the End of the World”, below. Pre-order the album here.
Images courtesy of Massage.
