INTERVIEW: E.R.I.E. to Release “THE HIGHS, the lows, And Everything In Between”
Photo by Jarron Childs
“Everything about this is definitely an evolution from where we were before…”
Albany-based indie-rock group, E.R.I.E., is set to release Everything In Between, the final EP making up their record THE HIGHS, the lows, And Everything In Between, on February 21st.
As the third and final EP in their trilogy release, And Everything In Between features four new tracks inspired by the feeling of “generally coasting” through life, as drummer Chad Flewwelling put it, which fits with the progression of themes in the previous EP releases of the project – THE HIGHS offering upbeat, invigorating riffs that accompany lyrical stories of starting music at a young age and the support that has lifted the band to new heights and keeps them running full speed ahead, and the lows which examines the burnout and doubts that can also creep in during the chase.
Releasing the record in three different segments was a strategic decision based on how people tend to consume music nowadays: in smaller, bite-sized chunks. Additionally, the formation of the record worked itself out into various pieces based on the themes that emerged from the songs and the time the band was able to dedicate to the album in between the individual members’ busy lives with 9-to-5s and families, bassist Levi Jennes added.
Committing to an organized rehearsal schedule and recording as they went along helped allow for smooth sailing when creating the album.
“We left rehearsals with really well done first draft demos to work from, and then from there, we just continued to work on stuff individually and took it from there,” Flewwelling said.
This sped-up process was in part a result of lessons learned from their previous record, 2023’s Suburban Mayhem, which took E.R.I.E. almost two years to put together, Jennes mentioned.
A grant from Saratoga Arts gave them the extra support they needed to craft a strong presentation to accompany the meaningful and evolved lyrics the group brought to the table. E.R.I.E. was able to book time at The Bunker Recording studio in Catskill that helped level-up their final product.
“We’re really proud of this record. We think the songs are really catchy. It’s going to be up to the world to decide what they think about it after it’s out [on February 21st], but it’s everything we wanted it to be,” Jennes said.
The group has seen tremendous growth with this new body of work in a way that they can feel in a live setting too. While gigging at Desperate Annie’s Super Dark Monday show on February 10th, the quartet showcased songs off the new record and could feel their work come alive.
“It’s the first time that we’ve performed songs from a record and both matched the intensity of the record and also had the record match our [performance’s] intensity. Everything about this is definitely an evolution from where we were before,” Jennes said.
Stepping out of their comfort zones as individual performers was another component that allowed for the new growth that can be seen in full bloom on THE HIGHS, the lows, And Everything In Between.
The rockers’ passion for their art is an obvious factor in their willingness to switch things up, even after having been immersed in the music industry for a while, and they hope this record encourages listeners to be fueled by their passions as well.
“You should do whatever it is you want to do, whenever you want to do it,” Flewwelling said. “If you are passionate about something and you want to try to do something, do it! That’s what we're trying to convey here.”
Stream E.R.I.E.’s “THE HIGHS, the lows, And Everything In Between” on all streaming platforms February 21st, and catch it live at SingleCut North in Clifton Park on March 1st at their album release show, alongside Arrow Through Me, also celebrating the release of their debut EP.
