On their forthcoming LP designer heartache, Southern California trio The Small Calamities stay true to the melody-first philosophy of their folk roots while venturing further into the world of Alternative Pop with an easy confidence. Working with such talented collaborators as Michael Brauer (Coldplay, Ben Folds, Grandaddy) and Vince Ratti (Brand New, The Wonder Years), The Small Calamities meld straight-to-the-heart pop hooks and immaculate production into a radio-ready, ambitious sound. Spend some time with the music, though, and you’ll find that designer heartache. was crafted with intention; the undeniable choruses ride on a bed of intricate, exquisite arrangement.
“In some ways, we are a late 1990’s alt-rock band that happened to form in 2015” laughs vocalist/guitarist/ producer Charlie Wolf. Deftly blending the hallmark approach to songwriting of that era with sweeping synths and arena-ready refrains, designer heartache. marks a quantum leap in the development of a sound hinted at in 2015’s Angels and Commerce and the 2018 limited-edition Champaign Finance.
Wolf and the core group of bassist Christian Kalafut and drummer Hayden Parker cut their teeth playing clubs and cafes in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Having spent the last several years honing their distinct sound. Tracked at a brace of California recording studios, the record features an astonishing list of guest instrumentation ranging from mandolin and dobro to the Macedonian Radio Symphonic Orchestra.
Thematically, designer heartache. delves into the uniquely modern conceit that while technology has led to a sense of vast interconnectedness the reality is that many people are feeling lonelier than ever. Despite the heady subject matter at handy, however, fans should rest assured that “we’re gonna get pretty loud,” says Wolf. “I had to buy a big jar of earplugs from Walgreens. They’re not very good.”
Glide is proud to premiere the video for “house lights” a jangly modern rocker that rings with the contagious melodic indie rock of Nada Surf and Jimmy Eat World. Small Calamities offer a tremendous range of hooks and exhibitionism from the past and present, qualifying them as retro-modern stake bearers.
“For our newest single ‘house lights’, we wanted to make a video that paid tribute to the sitcoms we grew up within the late ’90s and early ’00s,” says Wolf. “Specifically, we always liked how the intro from The Adventures of Pete & Pete featured a random band playing outside that weren’t otherwise related to the show. So for this video, we imagined ourselves as the main characters of a sitcom. The show probably wouldn’t be very popular. We think it would be canceled during the first episode.”
