Patience, practice and power: Pridelands’ advice to their past selves.
There are a lot of us who’ll never release a debut album. But per our stats, if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re about to turn 30 and the two life moments aren’t too dissimilar: The training wheels are off, there’s a certain legitimating factor about it – people start to take you more seriously and if all goes to plan, it’s nothing short of a headtrip. The hype, the accompanying grind, the good days, the walks around the block…the doubt. And by the sounds of things, completing a debut album is no less easier in your back.
You might be thinking this is much deeper than you were expecting to find on your evening scroll, but there’s an arch here, you see when BLUNT connected with Pridelands, that’s the same experience we had.
Following the release of their debut album, Light Bends, out now on Resist Records, we asked the band what advice they would give their past, pre-debut album selves. But what we got back advice as conducive with a better album process as it is with a better state of mind, dare we even say for those of us staring 30 down the barrel.
Without any further ado, we give you Pridelands.
“Alright…where do I begin?”
It’s been so many years since we first picked up our instruments, so many years since jamming in our parents’ sheds, granny flats and high school music rooms. It feels like a lifetime ago that we all found one another at all of the different points in time. It was forever ago that we made that one, clear promise to ourselves that we would try and make this whole music thing happen, despite what anyone around us thought of it. Today our debut album was released and it still doesn’t quite feel real. I know that you probably didn’t think this day would ever come, but it has. You went through so very much to arrive at this destination and as chaotic, intense and seemingly impossible the journey has felt, it’s finally over.
It’s kinda crazy, right?
I suppose you’d be wondering if there was anything that we’d tell you to do differently and the answer is a resounding ”definitely”. You absolutely have to be patient with your dreams, but don’t lose sight of them. Try to get less distracted with the hustle and bustle of the city, but don’t live life without having any fun. The mistakes you make along the way will help shape the way you work in ways that you couldn’t possibly imagine. But yeah, maybe try to party a little bit less. Or a lot less, I dunno. Don’t let me tell you what to do.
Never be afraid to be confident in yourself and what you do. Just because there are a million and one incredible artists and bands out there, it doesn’t mean you have to write yourself off. There’s a huge difference between confidence and arrogance, and you may find that you come off as the latter in your self-uncertainty. Take pride in your efforts and keep on trying your best. Practice more (except maybe Liam and Joe, you guys are fine in that department). It can be hard when your body is your instrument, but if you take care of it, it’ll work with you instead of against you. Remember that the one quality that all good bands share is a strong work ethic. When it’s time to get it done, get it done. Stay focussed. God, I feel like I’m Michael Jordan in a Nike ad with all these inspirational platitudes…
Try to remember that other’s successes do not equate to your failures. It’s a brutal industry and sometimes you don’t get to where you wanna be on a straight and narrow road. It can be disheartening when things don’t go the way you imagine, but it’s all happening for a reason. Don’t forget that the most important part of what you do and how you do it is the love you have for one another. We are a family. We always have been and we always will be. Be understanding of one another, be patient with one another, allow one another to make mistakes and pick each other up when we fall down. There is nothing more important or powerful in the world than love and remembering that will remind you that it’s all worth it when times are hard.
Also, remember to lock the van and the trailer and stop stealing the headline band’s beers. They don’t like it when you do that.
All our love,
Pridelands.
