After taking a hiatus in 2024, TITUS is back and better than ever on ‘BAD YEAR!’ This confessional pop-punk track will make you feel more understood in whatever you may be going through, with TITUS admitting throughout the song that he’s been having a hard time. It’s raw and cathartic, with every line absolutely buzzing through us and making us feel less alone in our anxieties and sad thoughts. Everyone, take notes, because this is how you make a roaring comeback!
Our year is off to an amazing start, because we got to ask TITUS all about his comeback single, what he learned during his hiatus, and more! Check out ‘BAD YEAR’ below and keep reading to learn more about the song.
Hi TITUS, congratulations on ‘BAD YEAR!’ How does it feel to let the song out into the world and see how fans are reacting?
I always feel great after letting the world hear something I’ve been working on for some time. I think generally the TITUS listeners are happy I’m releasing.
What does ‘BAD YEAR’ mean to you?
‘BAD YEAR’ is anthem for when it feels like the world is kicking your a**. It was important to give it a positive/happy melody though because I do feel like there is always something good to come from something bad.
There are so many stunning lyrics on ‘BAD YEAR,’ with one of our favorites being “there’s more truth inside a thoughtless lie.” Is there a certain line on the song that you’re especially proud of?
If I had to choose, the one you mentioned is the first one that comes to mind. Sometimes the things we don’t think about are often the most telling. For example, when you ask someone how they are, we usually just say “good” as an automatic response. I’d say 30% of the time I say good, I’m not good, which is such a “thoughtless lie,” but speaks to the inability we have sometimes as human beings to say what we’re actually feeling when people ask.
When you “feel so overloaded,” what helps you calm down and stay grounded?
My dogs. My soon-to-be wife and friends keep me grounded as well. But the dogs are so innocent – I mean, they’re huskies, so they’re actually not innocent, but generally speaking they always meet you with warmth no matter what’s going on. And there is something so comforting about that stability.
We love that the instrumentals of your songs match the emotions in the lyrics so well! What’s your creative process like?
I pick records and/or riffs that match the tone of what I want to say or what I’m feeling, and then it’s an open diary from there. I’ve heard entire songs say things to me that don’t have lyrics, so there is much importance I feel that should be acknowledged in the production side of music.
You stepped away from the spotlight for a mental health hiatus last year, and we’re so glad you were able to do that for yourself! What would you say to a fan who’s struggling with their mental health?
Don’t feel pressured to keep the ship afloat. Sometimes you have to sink it, swim back and build a new one. There’s a lot of societal pressure to stay doing what everyone is doing, and sometimes that doesn’t work for you, but you’ll ignore it because you don’t want to seem “crazy.” Getting off social media is one of those things, and a huge one for me at that. Constant pressure to live up to the expectation of strangers (in your head) can be burdensome. The comparison you make to other people subconsciously by consuming content, and the result of that content 24/7 can build on my anxiety to the point where I don’t want to be around it anymore.
I also got to a point where I was spending so much time plugged in that I wasn’t really paying attention to the people around me in my actual physical life as much, and that made me unhappy. So I’ve been taking time away from social media to live in the moment and enjoy things like that – and it’s been great.
What’s the biggest thing you learned during your hiatus?
I learned so much, but to be completely honest I ended up back at the same lesson I seem to keep re-learning – which is “all things in moderation.” You can go hard doing something, just make sure it all balances out. Take time for the world, and take time for yourself.
How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist since your last release, 2023’s ‘Where will I go when I Dream?’
I’m starting to get more experimental with production moving forward. Also, I’ve matured quite a bit in this last year, and so I think both of those will be themes you hear in my music moving forward.
For anyone discovering your music through ‘BAD YEAR,’ which of your past songs would you recommend for them to check out first?
‘Sick about U,’ ‘Gorgeous Disaster,’ and ‘Love Myself.’
What can your fans look forward to in 2025?
More music of course. I’m really trying to let all these ideas go (from my hard drive) this year.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans that the questions didn’t touch on?
If you’re reading this, I love you. I’ll be seeing all of you at some point soon hopefully. And feel free to drop me a message about your day or how some of my songs have impacted you – I do like reading those stories and I always try to respond directly after. Let’s rip!
Thank you so much to TITUS for answering our questions! We’ve had ‘BAD YEAR’ on repeat and can’t wait to hear what else you have in store for us this year. Keep on rocking and taking care of yourself!
Now, honeybees, we have some questions for you! What do you think of ‘BAD YEAR?’ What are your favorite TITUS songs? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! You can also buzz on over to our Reddit community to chat with us.
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