We’re glad the guys from We Demand Parachutes demanded parachutes from the US military! Otherwise, they probably wouldn’t be here!
First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
When Kevin was attending military free fall school we were working on some songs and kicking name ideas around. Seth said to the group chat, “Hey Kevin, just make sure you don’t forget a parachute!” We started riffing on that and landed on “We Demand Parachutes.” It just felt very “us.”
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
We all grew up in Maine and played in a bunch of different punk and rock bands over the years. In high school Seth and Ben were in bands that hated each other. Eventually we all hung out and realized we had a lot in common. We have been friends and jamming together ever since. After graduating high school, we all went separate ways. Individually we attended colleges in separate states and Kevin joined the military. It was during a deployment when we reconnected musically. Kevin was overseas as a Green Beret in the US military and started sending song ideas to Seth and Ben. After a few demos were passed back and forth it was clear we were meant to be writing and producing music together. We met in North Carolina for two weeks following that deployment and set our sights on creating a sound that could capture our individual stories and experiences. For the first two years, We Demand Parachutes existed over Google Drive and group messages.
How would you describe your sound?
We grew up listening to rock music and this is core to our sound. We all draw on a number of other influences including electronic music and pop. Everything in WDP is a gestalt. Seth used to tour as a sound engineer with The Knocks and Shallou and brings those influences. Ben used to listen to a lot of hardcore music and brings some of those elements to his drumming. We all listen to a wide variety of music and genres to seek inspiration.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
One of our favorite records over the last couple of years is Kenny Hoopla’s “Survivors Guilt: The Mixtape.” We all collectively love The Band Camino, American Teeth, Four Year Strong, Pool Kids, Pierce The Veil, The 1975, Cherie Amour, Driveways, Gold Steps, Alex Melton, Aries, BAYNK and the Knocks to name a few!
What’s the last song you listened to?
“Go Wrong” – happydaze
What’s your source for hearing new music?
We try to go to a lot of live shows, and maintain group chats where we send each other music. We think it’s really important when you hear something that inspires you to share it and we love doing that internally as a band. We also leverage some of the more traditional methods of finding new stuff, like Spotify and Youtube.
Who is your dream producer?
Alan Day is actually our dream producer and we are lucky to have just worked with him on this record that comes out in November! We are hoping to do even more with him down the road.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
We would love to collaborate with Carousel Kings!
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
From We Demand Parachute’s Bio:
For We Demand Parachutes, the ideology is simple; work with purpose, be grateful, be humble and play every show like it’s the last. The group was incepted originally when guitarist and vocalist Kevin McCord was deployed overseas with the United States Military, while bassist and programmer Seth Richardson and drummer Ben Shumaker were working in live sound. In late 2016 Kevin started sending ideas from a deployment in Africa back to Seth and Ben. After a few demos were passed back and forth it was clear We Demand Parachutes were meant to be writing and producing music together. The group met in North Carolina for two weeks following that deployment and set their sights on creating a sound that could capture their individual stories and experiences. For the first two years, We Demand Parachutes existed over Google Drive and group messages. Everyone lived in separate states and countries. The name “We Demand Parachutes” originated as a tongue-in-cheek conversation when Kevin was attending military free-fall school. Despite the creative limitations of those early years, We Demand Parachutes never stopped writing.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
For this record we wrote all the music before we got into the studio with Alan. Then when we were in the studio we took several days to pre-produce all the tracks with Alan. This allowed us to step into the writing process with Alan as a fourth member. We lived in the songs which sometimes meant rearranging or rewriting aspects and then ultimately tracking every individual piece.
We Demand Parachutes describe working with Day as “a perfect example of exceptional collaboration,” as the producer took the initial shape of the song and helped further shape it into the melodic, super-polished pop powder keg it is today. Working with Day was the normally DIY trio’s first experience working with a producer, “and it blew us all away what an external perspective can bring… Alan has been both a songwriter and musician on projects we have listened to and loved for years so adding his perspective as a fourth member was incredible.”
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
We think social media is actually a great tool for this. Whether it’s sharing music, jumping in the comments section or messaging us, we love to hear from the people that are listening to us!
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Website
Bandcamp
Spotify
What’s next for you?
We couldn’t be more excited about the record we just finished that is produced, engineered and mixed by Alan Day. You can hear a few of the singles “29” and “Hungover You” on all platforms now. The rest of the EP will be available at midnight on November 11.
We have some incredible shows coming up, including our EP release party at Taffeta in Lowell on November 10th and a show at the Loft in Poughkeepsie the following night. You can expect to find us at a number of venues in New England this fall and potentially further in the New Year.
Anything else you’d like to add or let us know about?
From We Demand Parachute’s “29” press release:
“29” is the latest energetic and animated track to appear on We Demand Parachutes’ debut EP Outside The Null Field, and produced, engineered, and mixed by Alan Day of Worcester pop-punk heroes Four Year Strong and set for release November 11. The good-times party vibes of “Hungover You” are quickly replaced by some real-world issues, ones the band – vocalist and guitarist Kevin McCord; bassist and programmer Seth Richardson; and drummer and percussionist Ben Shumaker – all experienced personally on their path to crafting this defining record.
“29″ is a song about coping with mental health,” the band states. “Kevin’s initial focus when writing the lyrics was to try to relate the feeling of being 29 years old and feeling like he hadn’t achieved any of the things he had hoped to by his 30s. At the time of writing, Kevin had just left the military and his Special Forces team and after years of building that very difficult path, he was starting from scratch in a new city. There was a general feeling for all of us in We Demand Parachutes at that time that the traditional metrics of success didn’t define our current positions in life. ‘29’ addresses the anxiety and dread associated with obsessing with everyone else’s expectations of who you are.”
Bio:
We Demand Parachutes are an alternative rock and pop-punk band hailing from Boston and Brooklyn. This year We Demand Parachutes play Virginia’s Blue Ridge Rock Festival, one of the largest rock festivals in the country, and release their debut record, produced by Alan Day of Four Year Strong.
For We Demand Parachutes, the ideology is simple; work with purpose, be grateful, be humble and play every show like it’s the last. The group was incepted originally when guitarist and vocalist Kevin McCord was deployed overseas with the United States Military, while bassist and programmer Seth Richardson and drummer Ben Shumaker were working in live sound. In late 2016 Kevin started sending ideas from a deployment in Africa back to Seth and Ben. After a few demos were passed back and forth it was clear We Demand Parachutes were meant to be writing and producing music together. The group met in North Carolina for two weeks following that deployment and set their sights on creating a sound that could capture their individual stories and experiences. For the first two years, We Demand Parachutes existed over Google Drive and group messages. Everyone lived in separate states and countries. The name “We Demand Parachutes” originated as a tongue-in-cheek conversation when Kevin was attending military free-fall school. Despite the creative limitations of those early years, We Demand Parachutes never stopped writing.
In 2019, the group began releasing music and garnered a tight-knit following based on dynamic live performances, high-energy singles, and outlandish music videos. While COVID put a damper on live music, it didn’t slow the band’s resolve. We Demand Parachutes focused on writing and expanding their following, it became a mantra to “SEND IT” and keep driving forward despite the obstacles. When live concerts reopened in 2021, We Demand Parachutes celebrated the first show back by selling out the Middle East in Cambridge, MA with friends Driveways and Cherie Amour. We Demand Parachutes began playing actively across the Northeast, with shows in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Maine, and Pennsylvania. This included the first festival appearance for the group at LAUNCH in Lancaster, PA in April 2022.
Moving from a complete DIY construct in 2022 was a significant departure for the band. Having the ability to write, edit, mix, direct and record all within the team opened doors for We Demand Parachutes in the beginning. However, always searching for improvement and growth, the group knew they needed the editorial perspective and experience of a producer of caliber. Serendipitously, Alan Day reached out to the group, interested in working together. We Demand Parachutes have individually found inspiration in so many of the records Alan has worked on in the past and the prospect of working together elated the group. Everything felt right about bringing Alan on to produce, co-write, and mix a record.
In January, the group met Alan at Ghost Hit Recording in West Springfield, MA and began working on a record together, a new EP titled Outside The Null Field, set for November release The first single, titled “Hungover You,” arrived in early September, just before the band played Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Virginia. It was followed by October’s “29,” with plenty more to come for fans in New England and beyond.
