The veterans of Toronto’s vibrant music scene show their remarkable chemistry on their debut album release.
Driven by an unfettered love for music, the individual members of Toronto outfit Sonic Scene Kids played in the local Toronto scene for almost twenty years before teaming up. With rich experience and poise befitting industry veterans, their eclectic brand of music reflects the rich and diverse influences of punk, metal, indie, ska, and rock that influenced their artistic directions. Having displayed the remarkable ability to put new, refreshing twists on the nostalgic and familiar, Sonic Scene Kids have shown they have everything necessary to succeed at the highest levels.
It’s hard to imagine, but Sonic Scene Kids have only played together for five months. Their chemistry feels like it’s at a level that’s been honed for years, not months, and the band constantly feels like more than the sum of its already impressive parts. The group also writes and produces their music, ensuring every release meets their lofty standards. About their music, Sonic Scene Kids say that they make music for the fans who remember burning CD mixes and tagging them with black Sharpies, and it’s safe to say that they’ve captured that nostalgic feeling in their music.
“Live, Laugh, Toaster Bath” is an amusing title that, funnily enough, perfectly encapsulates the musical energy and era of the Sonic Scene Kids channel on this musical journey. “Live, Laugh, and Toaster Bath is a warm and nostalgic project that evokes shades of the times bands like Blink-182, Green Day, and My Chemical Romance dominated the radiowaves. That isn’t to say Sonic Scene Kids are stuck in the past, though; with crisp production, immaculate energy, and breathtaking vocal performances, “Live, Laugh, Toaster Bath” feels like a revitalizing, fresh spin on timeless sounds. From the moment you delve into the project, the opening salvo, “Less Than Human,” draws you in with rollicking guitar riffs and lines like “There’s something wrong with the days cut short / but the nights are long and lonely” that channel that feeling of relatable angst we felt listening to rock in the early 2000s. This energy is impressively maintained throughout the record, with other standout songs like “Batteries Not Included” and “Spreading Fire” Pts 1 and 2 maintaining this energy and feeling like mini musical journeys. Sonic Scene Kids manage to balance these high-energy releases with perfectly placed introspective offerings like “Code Required,” where lines like “Keep a piece of you in every scar, stay true to what we are / the silence it's just tearing me apart” cut deep along with the mellowed out instrumentals. Although the energy doesn’t dip here too often, that makes these moments hit even harder, and by the time listeners reach “Surfer Girl,” the project conclusion, lines like “Could we clear the air before we die / I wanna hold you every night” are performed with a reverence that befits the musical journey that has just ended.
Sonic Scene Kids’ album “Live, Laugh, Toaster Bath” is a welcome and engrossing release that makes a nostalgic influence sound fresh and exciting. Whenever you’re ready, tap in and stream Sonic Scene Kids' new album “Live, Laugh, Toaster Bath”, available now on all majour streaming platforms.
Welcome to BuzzMusic Sonic Kids, and congratulations on your latest album release, "Live, Laugh, Toaster Bath." Can you share the story behind the name "Sonic Scene Kids?"
The name took a really long time to decide on. We wanted to create something catchy and memorable that represents what we are trying to accomplish musically. We went back and forth between the four of us for weeks until we started to circle some common themes. The Masonic Lodge in Mississauga (specifically, Streestville) in the early 2000s was where we connected with our Scene and watched some of our favorite bands. Some bands who played shows there during that time went on to have big followings (such as Billy Talent, Alexisonfire, and Bedouin Soundclash), while others remained local favorites. Still, all those bands have significantly influenced us as artists. One of us finally threw out the name "Sonic Scene Kids." It felt like the connection between the three major themes came together: the physical "Sonic" referring to the Masonic Lodge where we came together, "Scene" referring to the community of artists across the punk, ska, emo, power pop, and metal genres whose shows we attended and "Kids" because of the nostalgic early 2000's vibe our music has really brought us back to that time, and we hope it does the same for those listening.
What were the most significant influences that shaped your group's distinctive musical style?
We all spent our early years deeply involved in our local music scene, including fans and artists from Emo, Punk, Ska, Rock, Indie, and Metal genres. Most of our influences for the album came from early 2000s pop punk, punk, metal, and emo, but our influences span multiple genres and decades. We didn't want to prescribe one particular sound when we approached the project. We have not really restricted ourselves to a specific genre and have always wanted to stay true to expressing our feelings and experiences. The four of us have eclectic tastes in music. Because of that, we do an excellent job of balancing searching for new artists and sounds to connect with while always leaning back on the ones that have stood the test of time.
How does the title "Live, Laugh, Toaster Bath" reflect the album's spirit?
The title is a funny way of looking at how hard life can be. When you reflect on the lyrics of the songs, it also fits that theme of not taking life too seriously. Just be a good human: live your life, do your best, and say "fuck it" to the rest!
What themes or messages do you hope listeners pick from "Live, Laugh, Toaster Bath?"
Well, many people are feeling nostalgic these days, especially when it comes to music. Throughout the process, it has been essential to ensure the songs represent who we were when we started writing and who we are today as artists. We consciously included nods to some of our previous projects when writing the album. When attending shows in the early 2000s, we refer to our community as the "Scene ."The Scene, for us, was a collective of shows where you built lifelong relationships and memories. Our venues typically had a capacity of 100-200 and were a place to escape, thrive, and be a part of something bigger than yourself. This album is a living, breathing reminder of the scenes that supported and nurtured our personal and musical growth. The world could use more of that shared connection, especially now. Our album hopefully provides a safe place for people to sing, dance, laugh, smile, or cry – whatever they need.
What's next for Sonic Scene Kids?
We want to play live. We have a great lineup with incredible chemistry and are having so much fun right now. We are pushing out the whole album very soon and getting ready to start playing live shows again. Everyone in the band is pumped to play the music we wrote for crowds again. There is no better feeling than communicating how you are feeling through music.
A big focus for us has been bringing that Scene back together. As we start sharing and performing, we also try to connect and engage with those in the space who share our mission. We are committed to bringing this idea of community around music to life for those who have lived it before and those looking for a safe place to hear incredible music and meet good people.