INTERVIEW: Sammy Clifford – WSTR

It’s been a busy year for Liverpool pop punk’s WSTR. From touring alongside band’s including NECK DEEP and CREEPER across Europe and Australia, festival slots at Slam Dunk and Download, and finding a new home at Hopeless Records, the four piece also found time to push out their second album Identity Crisis last month. We spoke to vocalist Sammy Clifford to find out all about their latest record alongside reflecting on their touring antics this year.

Your new album Identity Crisis recently came out. What does it mean to you to get this new album out to fans?

Sammy: It means everything. Especially with the reaction we’ve had so far. It really has seemed to connect with people and it feels like one big family right now.

Your debut album Red, Green Or Inbetween, was released only last year, what made you decide to make and release a new record so soon after?

Sammy: We went through a label switch and some member changes and we just felt like it was the right time.

You’ve teamed up with Seb Barlow again to produce this new record. What made you decide to work with him again?

Sammy: Seb has done all three of our releases and we feel like he’s progressed as we’ve progressed. He’s a close personal friend of mine so there was never any doubt from me where to do this record. Seb put his heart into it as much as we did and it really paid off.

Identity Crisis will be the first release at your new home at Hopeless Records. How does it feel to be a part of their roster?

Sammy: It’s crazy. Being peers with a lot of bands that you’ve grown up idolising feels like a dream but they are really great and supportive so far. Again, it’s like a big family we have a lot of friends along side us.

What was the writing and recording process like for the record?

Sammy: Same as the rest really. I usually come up with most things on my voice notes. I’ll hum out a riff or a vocal melody with skeleton lyrics and we’ll take it from there. We put a lot more sass and feeling into this one though and it feels like it’s got it’s own personality.

Can you describe the lyrical themes and messages that are present on the record? And are these messages drawn from personal experience?

Sammy: All down to personal experience yes. There’s a few running themes about society and how messed up social media can be. People feeling lost and getting depressed and so forth. There’s also the songs about the girl that I always seem to write about.

And with Identity Crisis being your second full-length record, what do you hope to achieve with it? is the band ambitious?

Sammy: Yeah we’re hungry. We don’t really set any milestones because we’re still excited to be here and doing what we’re doing. We’ve done some great things so far after only being a band for three years but we’re working hard and we definitely want to grow and continue to tour and make music that connects with people.

You’ve already done some extensive touring this year, including festivals such as Download and now you’re in the USA. How has this been for you and has it built momentum for the new release?

Sammy: Download was great and a personal favourite of mine because it was the first festival I ever went to. There’s no bullshit there just rock music. The whole weekend was a great vibe. We’re about six shows into our first ever US tour now and we’ve been blown away by the reactions so far. It feels pretty crazy to be so far away in what seems like the middle of nowhere and have kids been waiting to sing the words back at you. It’s pretty surreal out here but there’s like 11 weeks to go, so ask me then.

There’s been an explosion in the number of new pop punk bands emerging in the UK, yourselves included. With so many bands active in the scene, how do you view the competition and what do you think WSTR have to stand our from the crowd?

Sammy: We don’t view anybody as competition. It’s a healthy scene with a lot of mates and we wish well to everybody. There’s some great music out there and we’re loving every second of playing along side these bands. The ones who will break out will break out.

To close, we’ll offer you the floor. Do you have anything to say to the readers of Distorted Sound Magazine?

Sammy: I’d just like to say anybody who’s given WSTR a chance or listened to our new record or any of our records we owe it all to you. Thanks for picking it up and giving us so much positive feedback on it. It means everything to us.

Identity Crisis is out now via Hopeless Records. 

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