For two decades, the soulful rhythms and compelling anthems of GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum band NEEDTOBREATHE have captivated audiences worldwide. Hailing from South Carolina, their eclectic fusion of rock, soul, and pop has established them as musical heavyweights, garnering billions of streams and multiple chart-topping hits. Yet, even with such remarkable accolades, the band approaches their latest project, "CAVES," with an air of humble introspection and determination. Released on September 15th, this ninth studio album promises an evocative journey into self-exploration and resilience. As we sit down with the band, they share insights on their evolution, the significance of their new album, and the intrinsic bond they share with their fans.
LEG: Your new album CAVES is dropping this month. With a theme of self-exploration and resilience running through the veins of this project, which track on the album hits closest to home for you?
For me, it’s the song “Temporary Tears.” As humans, we go through so many ups and downs in life and the song is a good reminder that the pain and hurt we feel won’t last forever and that there are better days coming.
LEG: You're all hitting the road this fall with special guests, Judah and the Lion! With over 25 cities on the map, is there one you’re most excited for?
It’s gonna be a blast! We can’t wait to hit the road again and there are so many fun stops along the way. It’s always fun to play Bridgestone Arena in Nashville so we can’t wait for that one.
LEG: Aside from featuring Judah and the Lion on your upcoming tour this fall, “Dreams”, one of the focus tracks on your upcoming album also features the group. What was it like collaborating with them on this song? What is the song about?
The song “Dreams” is about our fans. We have been given so much and it’s all because of the people who have followed and supported us along the way. We feel super lucky to be a band and wouldn’t be here without our fans. The guys in Judah and the Lion feel the same way and so collaborating on the song was super fun and easy to do.
LEG: For a band that has often seen themselves as outsiders, how do you think this new album CAVES has showcased a new place of confidence for you all? How do you feel this album differs from other music you've previously released?
I think for a long time the band created with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder. Maybe it was because we were from small towns, and felt like we had something to prove. I think now more than ever we feel a sense of security in who we are as people, and as a band, which allows us to create from a place less worried about ego. It’s also good because personally, we are in a good place which makes it fun to make music. Some of our earlier records were really hard to make because of what was going on behind the scenes. We were all a mess. Personally, I would take the culture we have now every day over that.
LEG: Your album was written in two post-pandemic phases. Can you tell us a little bit about the dichotomy of these writing stages and how it impacted your upcoming album?
Crazy enough this is our third record since the pandemic but I feel like it’s our first record where we had the space and time to create free from anxiety and worry. The recording was really broken up and the two parts with the first being Utah, and the second being Minnesota. In between the sessions, we were writing a lot while on the road. We always take a long time to make records, and this gives us the time to make some mistakes, try things multiple times, and feel more confident when we are reaching the finish line.
LEG: If we were a fly on the wall in a NEEDTOBREATHE writing session, what would we see?
A bunch of guys trying really hard to make something bigger than ourselves.
LEG: When the world hears this album for the first time, what do you want them to take away?
We keep saying that this record feels more thankful than any other record we’ve released. To be putting out our ninth album is crazy to us. We really do feel like we have the luckiest jobs in the world and we still pinch ourselves that we get to do it every day. We think it’s evident listening to the record, but hope the fans do as well.
LEG: You all formed the band in South Carolina back in 2001. With over 20 years under your belts, how do you think the band’s genre landscape has evolved over the years into what it is today?
We always say that NEEDTOBREATHE is more like a playlist band than one genre. We skip from banjos to pop to rock ‘n’ roll to folk, but somehow it all makes sense under the NEEDTOBREATHE umbrella. I think the best compliment we could receive is that someone would listen to a song that’s not us on the radio and say that it sounds “NEEDTOBREATHE-ish” as if we were our own genre. We’ve always tried to do what we love and we are fortunate that our fans allow us to experiment the way we get to.
LEG: If you could give one piece of advice to the bands/artists trying to break through in the industry today, what would you say to them?
Play your music for as many people as you can as many times as you can. Experience comes from doing not by who you know or the breaks you get. Nothing is easy.