We Demand Parachutes harness the weight of the world with ‘Cheerful Coping’
Boston and Brooklyn alt-rock and pop-punk trio return with a seismic new single produced by Alan Day on Friday, April 12
NOW PLAYING: Listen to ‘Cheerful Coping’ on Spotify
Long-awaited follow-up to breakout 2022 EP ‘Outside The Null Field’
BOSTON, MA [April 12 , 2024] – With a quick look around and a scroll up and down our social media feeds, it’s easy to feel the weight of the world and become completely overwhelmed by the chaos that surrounds us. But many have created their own unique ways to stay positive and power through, and for We Demand Parachutes, that involves a heavy dose of what they call “Cheerful Coping.” And it sounds pretty good, no matter what the news may bring.
The Boston and Brooklyn alt-rock and pop-punk trio return with its seismic new single on Friday, April 12. It’s the start of a new chapter for the band, who in 2022 unveiled their debut album Outside The Null Field to wide acclaim and last fall linked up with Fake Feelings for a collaboration called “Still Trying”. The melodic and explosive “Cheerful Coping,” produced and engineered by Alan Day of Four Year Strong, captures the spirit of the modern day – and the little things we do in order to keep moving forward as the world burns around us.
“‘Cheerful Coping’ is the story of the underdog,” says We Demand Parachutes. “There is something powerful in having a mindset of resilience. Like the rest of the world, the three of us have all had some wild life happen these past couple of years. As a band, we’ve adopted the mantra, ‘Cheerful Coping.’ The world’s getting weirder. We think it’s important to keep that positive mindset and keep driving through the obstacles. Life is going to knock you down; you’ve gotta keep standing back up.”
And that’s what We Demand Parachutes are doing on this new single. As vocalist and guitarist Kevin McCord paints a vivid picture of modern-day struggles with relatable lived-in anecdotes and clever wordplay, Ben Shumaker’s drums and percussion add a dynamic thunder to the mix, acting as the undertow that pulls the listener in after taking McCord’s lyrical bait, while Seth Richardson’s low-end bass and programming add a unique depth and complexity.
Add in Day’s studio finish, and what emerges is classic chemistry from We Demand Parachutes: a relentlessly catchy and hyper-polished composition that’s somehow both heavy and airy at the same time. As McCord sings about the “weight of the word,” the music of “Cheerful Coping” seems to crash down all around him with a drama and intensity most bands fail to capture
“One of the first lyrics written for this song was ‘I’m the king of sleeping in’. The narrative became an acknowledgment that everyone can be the worst version of themselves at times,” the band admits. “The critical point is to find a way to navigate back, despite what the world throws at you, and adopt an attitude of resilience.”
The title track to a new six-track EP due out later this year, “Cheerful Coping” reflects a creative songwriting shift for the band, taking demos and ideas born in isolation and rebuilding them through the pre-production process in the studio with Day at Ghost Hit Recording studio in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Early seeds of the song were first planted by McCord a few weeks after completing Outside The Null Field, and after a heavy workshop on the chorus by the band, the song began to take its current shape.
“During pre-production, we wanted to explore some new sounds and vibes,” says We Demand Parachutes. “We’ve fallen in love with an iterative songwriting process these past few years. Important in our process is the comfort we have working together. If necessary, we can be pretty critical about what avenue correctly serves the song. If an idea isn’t working or doesn’t feel right, we change it. That decisiveness in collaboration and the ability to find a common thread in any discussion feels a bit like our secret sauce.”
And it led to an efficacious new EP, one that maintains the traditional We Demand Parachutes sound but explores new sonic territory that further blurs any notion of staid genre lines.
“We got real weird in the studio,” they say with a laugh. “We spent more time on this record, and that allowed us to sail away on what Alan coined as the ‘vibe journey’, effectively creative experimentation with new instruments, plugins, and patches, reimagining chords and stories to find something outside the box. Everything was on the cutting floor. We narrowed 13 songs to six and then tried to break those down to their most potent components and rebuild.”
The band hopes the title track helps set the tone for what’s ahead over the next several months, both regarding new music and what fans can expect at the We Demand Parachutes live shows. Outside The Null Field remains a source of massive pride for the band, and acted as a breakthrough for the trio – taking them to perform live all over New England, as well as The North by Northeast festival in Toronto and as far south as Virginia’s Blue Ridge Rock Festival. Now they look to extend their reach even farther, connecting with new audiences through a combination of new releases and a healthy slate of upcoming live shows planned for New York, Pennsylvania, the Northeast, and beyond.
It all re-starts with the music, and with “Cheerful Coping,” We Demand Parachutes are once again opening up a little bit of themselves, revealing vulnerabilities and reminding those listening that its three members are just like them. To be human is all part of the coping process, from the global events that dominate our daily news intake, to the little things that humorously bring the band down – such as “anyone not giving it their all, most Massachusetts drivers, and bad bagels.”
Feeling optimistic in a pessimistic world is what We Demand Parachutes are all about. Well, that and cranking out memorable tunes with a purpose and a message.
“There are a ton of bops on this record,” the band concludes. “There is also a lot of introspection, realization, and pain. ‘Cheerful Coping’ is our title track because it distills all that emotion into our macro attitude.”
‘Cheerful Coping’ artwork:
We Demand Parachutes are:
Kevin McCord: Vocals and guitars
Seth Richardson: Bass and programming
Ben Shumaker: Drums and percussion
‘Cheerful Coping’ production credits:
Produced and engineered by Alan Day
Mastered by Adam Ayan at Ayan Mastering
Artwork photography by Alyson Peabody
Artwork graphic design by Hannah McCord
We Demand Parachutes short bio:
For We Demand Parachutes, the ideology is simple: Work with purpose, be grateful, be humble, and play every show like it’s the last.
The alternative rock and pop-punk trio originated when guitarist and vocalist Kevin McCord was deployed overseas with the United States Military. In late 2016, while Kevin was on deployment in Africa, he sought a creative outlet. With only a laptop and a wi-fi connection, he began sharing musical ideas with his two childhood friends: Bassist and programmer Seth Richardson and drummer Ben Shumaker, who were both stateside working in live sound. After exchanging a handful of demos, it became clear that We Demand Parachutes was meant to write and produce music together.
For two years, We Demand Parachutes existed exclusively in group chats and Google Drive folders while everyone lived in different states and countries. When Kevin returned home from deployment, the group convened for the first time in North Carolina, where they spent two weeks focusing on creating a sound that could capture their stories and experiences. The name "We Demand Parachutes" originated as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the creative limitations faced during those early years, which they navigated purely through determination.
In 2019, the band started releasing music and gained a devoted following due to their dynamic performances, energetic singles, and unconventional music videos. Fueled by their passion and joy for making music together, We Demand Parachutes continued to build support in the northeast. With increasing momentum, WDP collaborated with producer Alan Day in 2022 to record their debut EP. The EP, titled Outside The Null Field, was released in November, with the first single, “Hungover You,” coming out in early September. This release was followed by the band's performance at the 2022 Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Virginia.
After the positive reception of Outside The Null Field, which included appearances at several North American festivals in Pennsylvania, Toronto, and Virginia, as well as artist collaborations, and surpassing their goal of a million Spotify streams, We Demand Parachutes decided to focus on further exploring their sound. In the summer of 2023, the group began writing and recording a new album.
We Demand Parachutes stands ready in 2024 to deliver this new body of work, with sophomore EP Cheerful Coping, their second record with producer Alan Day, set for release later this year.
Media praise for We Demand Parachutes:
“Pop-punk risers We Demand Parachutes continues its stretch of stellar new releases with its track, ‘29’. It’s throwback pop-punk; a bouncy, nostalgic jam that expertly builds to soaring choruses.” _New Noise Magazine
“We are so obsessed with this band that it’s not even funny. We Demand Parachutes takes us right back to the early 2000s when songs with this vibe were in every movie and had taken over the mainstream. We need that time back desperately. If anyone can get us back there it’s We Demand Parachutes!” _The Honey Pop
“‘Hungover You’ has a very noughties pop punk sound which is akin to the likes Simple Plan & New Found Glory, there is somewhat of a renaissance of this style of punk which has been aided through the help of TikTok and it must be said, We Demand Parachutes nail this sound with their latest single.” _Hive Magazine
“The Boston/Brooklyn trio got their start through Google Drive, basically, but everything clicked once they got together in person. Enter: Alan Day. The Four Year Strong vocalist/guitarist helped piece together the pop-punk band’s debut album, which is starting to sound like an early-2000s Best Of rock compilation (Lit, American Hi-Fi, Nine Days). While Day certainly plays a part, full credit to the entire trio for very quickly carving out a sound for themselves that anyone can easily fall for.” _idobi Radio
“We Demand Parachutes are the cool kids and the life of the party with their latest energetic pop-punk single… The production element here is top-tier professional, and this track absolutely rips at high volumes with all musical voices finding their own frequency-space within the dense instrumentation. What’s really impressive is how the band effectively modernizes the early-‘00s pop-punk formula by using a strong dose of synths to play out the sections normally reserved for the lead guitar. [They] have lightning in a bottle with this brilliant, post-summer anthem.” _617 Music Reviews
“A slick release was presented by a band called We Demand Parachutes, with a strong pop punk spirit they introduced their newest song, ‘Hungover You’. This Boston-based band presents a bold single with a powerful riff. ‘Hungover You’ feels full of flavor and is strong with the lively pop punk guitar pull and drum beats that spread regularly throughout the song… The spirit of indie bands like this always gives a breath of fresh air that there are still many talented musical bands out there, and WDP should be on our radar, hopefully more releases will come from them.” _ParaPop
“On their first release of the year, Boston indie rockers We Demand Parachutes team up with powerhouse vocalist Olivia Castriota for a shimmering, spacey song called ‘Lost Her Mind’. Seemingly inspired by bands like Angels & Airwaves, there’s a visceral sound enveloped within layers of dreamy guitar melodies …” _Rolling Stone India
“New rock trio alert!! If you’re into rock/pop-punk-esque music, We Demand Parachutes is for you! ‘Hungover You’ sounds like the exact song we want to be at a live show screaming the words to immediately. If you’re a fan of bands like We The Kings, or With Confidence, we think you will love this trio.” _The Honey Pop
“We Demand Parachutes have honed an engaging nostalgic pop-punk sound injected with the band’s own modern take on a wide range of genres. The result offers up a fusion of punk, rock, synthwave, pop, EDM and more in a sound they describe as ‘energetic, reflective and cathartic.’” _Gigradar
“The trio work seamlessly to create a unique sound that mixes elements of big pop hooks and nostalgic 2000’s rock roots.” _The Music Bugle
“The band cites this as a story of nostalgia and resolution… a relationship/breakup song that shares a bit of a positive message. This is just fantastic emo music. The lyrics are poetic, interesting, and the music is dynamic and driving.” _Independent Music Reviews
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