The blend of bright pink and pop punk is something we need more of. It’s also something Seattle-based band instant crush has mastered. Their debut album, I’M SORRY I DIDN’T BITE MY TONGUE, is punk perfection covered in glitter and sparkles. And with the release of the deluxe version, they get even better. Covering subjects like frustration with the industry, navigating relationships in all forms, and the seemingly endless journey of finding yourself, instant crush makes music for those who want their coming-of-age soundtrack to come with lots of head-banging and foot-stomping.
To celebrate their electrifying release, we spoke to singer Megan Cannon about all things instant crush. How the album came to be, how they’ve evolved, and of course a few fun stories; we want you to know it all. So keep reading to get to know your next celebrity crush!
I’M SORRY I DIDN’T BITE MY TONGUE
Can you tell us a bit about your background in music and your journey to your debut album?
I started making music when I was 15 just writing songs on an acoustic guitar. During that time, I grew up listening to a lot of pop punk adjacent music. I was so obsessed with the Warped Tour scene. With that background, I 100% knew a full band sound was what I wanted. I didn’t want to be playing solo shows forever. From there, I started producing demos with that goal in mind and had everything set aside for when I met the right group of people! Once the group was all settled, I spent a lot of time writing a variety of different songs and figuring out who I am as a songwriter—and that’s truly what this debut album was. I now know who I am and what I truly want to make, and I am endlessly grateful for that.
A main theme of this album is saying what’s on your mind and not caring what people think. Did writing/releasing this album teach you anything about that?
Yes, it did! I remember being so scared the day before the album release because I was being so vulnerable and loud about the way I felt, which I never do in my personal life. It helped me become more open and honest both in my musical life and personal life, just by showing me how people can connect with how I feel, and by helping me understand that nothing is ever that deep and feelings pass. It’s beautiful to be that honest and to have something tangible to capture the emotional state and the experience of my early 20s.
There’s also something nostalgic about your style of music. What kind of thoughts went into matching your visual aesthetic with the sound?
Visually, I truly just wanted to become the version of myself I wanted to be at age nine. I loved sparkles and everything pink and purple. But I think I grew out of that once I became more insecure and self aware throughout middle school. It was truly about healing my inner child and revisiting the parts of myself I thought “weren’t cool” or “too much.” I think I will always have a soft spot for younger me who was obnoxiously loud and attention-seeking before middle school broke me and I struggled more with anxiety and depression. And that’s what this album was really about healing.
I’M SORRY I DIDN’T BITE MY TONGUE (DELUXE)
Since it’s been almost a year and a half since you released the album, do you relate to the songs any differently now?
100%! Some of the songs on the record I wrote when I was 20. Now that I’m 24, I fully see them from a completely different perspective. I think I had a very naive way of looking at situations in my life. It’s fun to reflect and see how I’ve grown emotionally since then. The deluxe tracks are definitely me coming from a new perspective that I think shows that emotional growth in an interesting way.
With that in mind, how did you decide that these new songs fit with the old ones?
I chose to write a lot of songs about the same situations I was in previously, but with a renewed perspective. When I write songs, they come from real-life experience; and I knew for these ones, I wanted to write about the same things, just with a different view. I think they go with each other in tandem, specifically ‘Grudge’ & ‘Stab My Back’. They came from that exact same inspiration, but from a stronger version of me.
The standout single from the deluxe is ‘GRUDGE.’ Can you talk about the inspiration behind this track?
‘GRUDGE’ is definitely my favorite, so I’m glad that one stands out! I had a lot of frustration when it came to coming into the music industry. When we started the band, it was like eyes were on us from day one. That is very cool and interesting to see, but that was truly my first experience playing shows and making music. I felt very vulnerable. And because I didn’t know much due to my lack of experience and age, it felt easy to be taken advantage of. It gave me a sense of needing to prove earlier eyes wrong. I think when all people perceive of you is the 19-year-old girl they first met, that’s how you will forever live in their mind. So I wanted to fully evolve and destroy that version of myself, which is what ‘GRUDGE’ is to me!
You also released three demos on the deluxe. What’s the process for getting a song from a demo to the final version?
All of these demos were just project files from my bedroom! We work with an incredibly talented producer (Drew Polovick of the band Friday Pilots Club). I had full faith and trust that starting songs from that organic place would still turn into something I love and enjoy. Previously, I was always very hesitant towards starting ideas on my own and bringing them to someone else, as they feel a lot more honest and raw, but having that trust really made these songs special. I think now that I’m more confident in who I am and what I can create, I wanted to give a peek behind the curtain and show that raw version of the songs where I’m just a girl, sad in her bedroom, getting her feelings out the only way she knows.
We’re curious about ‘symptom of withdrawal,’ which wasn’t on the original track list. Why did you decide to release just the demo for this song?
I really did enjoy that song a lot, and it felt really personal to me. I wrote this one around the same time I did with the other deluxe tracks. Lyrically, it was about the same relationships I was writing about previously. Moving forward in instant crush world, I want to move past those experiences and write about things more relative to where I’m at now emotionally. So while I did really enjoy the song, it wasn’t an emotional state I necessarily wanted to stay reliving. I felt the demo state of the track really represented what I wanted it to. It felt raw, which is truly how I felt while making it.
We love the album cover for the deluxe. What’s the story behind it?
We took these in Keegan’s apartment! It was his cat Georgie that both him and Zoee grew up with. We designed a full sequin set where we just played with cat toys to get a shot where his mouth was open. Growing up, I always loved indie albums with cats on the album cover, Two Door Cinema Club and We Were Scientists specifically. I knew I wanted to bring that energy back in this decade.
Behind The Scenes
How has your process as a band changed since the release of the standard album?
Moving forward, we do a lot by ourselves! A lot of these early songs on the album were started in different writing sessions with different producers (who I love very much). But we have got a set up to where I feel confident in what I make on my own and with my bandmates. Now we start a lot of ideas by ourselves, and then bring them off to finish in a separate session. I think before, I needed the approval from somebody else while making the idea to prove to myself that it was good. But now, I feel confident enough in myself and what I make to fully hash out ideas without additional approval.
What has it been like navigating the release of a debut album as a relatively small band?
Scary! I work full time outside of music, so trying to divide my time between the promotional material, writing new music, playing shows, and not burning myself out while working customer service has been hard. I am naturally a very introverted person. So it’s been difficult to balance all these aspects of my life while remaining sane.
From the tour diaries you’ve posted on social media, it looks like a lot of it is very DIY. What is that like?
We travel in our drummer’s (Matthew Tran’s) family minivan that they used to use on family road trips. It’s super cramped but so fun. It genuinely feels like we are on a grand adventure. Since we drive and do everything ourselves on tour, we always joke at how delusional we get. It’s just the four of us sitting in a car listening to silly audiobooks and hoping we don’t get lost, and loading gear at 2 am into a different hotel. There’s a fun rhythm and routine we get into. It feels like a grand journey where we all get to do what we love and play music!
No matter how you get there, you’ve played with some incredible acts. Do you have a favorite story from a tour or live performance?
One of my favorite shows ever was when we played with Friday Pilots Club in Denver. It was the last show on the tour with them. I remember so vividly looking into the audience and seeing more people than ever before singing along to most of our set. That was the first time I can distinctly remember that outside of the PNW area, and it was one of the coolest experiences.
Releasing a debut album is a huge deal! What is the main goal you are working towards next as a band?
I want to make crazier sounding music! Visually and production wise, I crave getting bolder and breaking out of the box I feel we are currently sitting in. I have so many ideas and a distinct concept and aesthetic for a second album. So I think that’s truly what I’m moving towards next. I want to build the world of instant crush bigger and brighter, getting more daring than ever before. Where I’m at mentally is the quote from Debby Ryan talking about Radio Rebel, where she “marched up to the president of Disney Channel, and said I want to make history.”
And we’re confident they will! So start following instant crush now, and it’s sure to pay off. Once you’ve listened to the album, let us know your favorite song at @thehoneypop on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INSTANT CRUSH:
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