New Music Monday: American Rock Band Remain Discusses Single “City of July,” and Long-Awaited EP “Millennial Nation”

(Last Updated On: July 10, 2021)

Remain is an American Rock band from Denton, TX, comprising Michael Rosser (Bass), Caleb Coonrod (Guitar, Lead Vox), Perry Hill (Drums), Jonathan McNary (Lead Guitar). The band played its first show at the Labb in Denton on August 16, 2014. Since then, they have honed a powerful, poetic sound composed of bar-rattling jams and rock anthems.

 In 2018 Remain’s single “Millennial Nation” was picked up by Bongo Boy Records. Millennial Nation would have released in April 2020. As Covid-19 hit, Remain held off on releasing the debut LP, let the pandemic pass, and hopefully clear the way for a more impactful release. They finally set the LP for release in September, and Remain recently released “City of July,” the first single of their upcoming LP.

 We were lucky enough to chat with Caleb Coonrod from Remain about their latest single and the journey of Millennial Nation.

 Hi, guys. Thanks for chatting with me. When did you guys decide to become a band? Tell me a bit about that journey.

Things with Remain took shape when I (Caleb) met drummer Perry Hill at Musician’s Hub in Denton. I had played a few shows with various lineups under the name “Remain,” and had played several solo shows in Texas and Oklahoma, but nothing in the aspect of a band solidified prior to meeting Perry. We soon had a full lineup before we were rolling.

 Since 2014 we’ve undergone a few lineup changes and have redefined our sound as well.

 Our current lineup: Caleb Coonrod (vox, guitar), Perry Hill (drums), Jonathan McNary (lead guitar), Michael Rosser (bass, backup vox) 

 How would you describe your signature sound and style?

I think we have yet to discover our signature sound. However, this album has gotten us a step closer to finding out what that sound is.

 Do you think your sound and lyrics have evolved?

Our sound and lyrics have definitely evolved since 2014. We spent a few years simply learning to assemble songs as a band, then released our debut EP in 2016. Listening back to that EP today clarifies that we did not know what our sound and message were. It’s not a terrible EP, it’s just uncertain.

 We underwent a lineup change at the end of 2018 and for most of 2019 it was just three of us in a room trying to hash out new songs and prep for an album. This was a very uncertain year because we didn’t have a full band and we weren’t able to do much but rehearse and demo songs. During that time, had we not been so driven to “stay alive” as a band, I think it would’ve been very easy to quit. That “commitment to life” mantra made its way into the thematic essence of the album.

 In late 2019, Jonathan McNary (lead guitar) came aboard. When Jonathan joined, most of “Millennial Nation” had been recorded so he only played on about half the songs. Since “Millennial Nation” was completed in late 2019, we’ve had the entire lockdown to incorporate Jonathan’s melodic, expressive style and make it a part of what we do. I think that our next project will really display a more extreme sonic evolution.

 Let’s talk about your new single, “City of July.” What inspired this song?

I was hosting open mic at a local Denton venue called Killer’s Tacos and one musician asked to be introduced by the stage name “City of July.” I really liked that. I didn’t know what it meant, but I knew how it made me feel. It sounded like some place I’ve always wanted to go, or maybe some place that someone had been trying to get to their entire life—some place dreamed of.

 What I was writing about may not even be a place, but it’s definitely something.

 Talk to me through the journey of your debut LP Millennial Nation; I heard it was delayed over a year. How did that affect you?

It was a long, and at times, discouraging process. We spent a year as three-piece demoing and rehearsing new songs. Since we didn’t have a full band during that time, we were not playing many shows or being very active in public. We finished “Millennial Nation” in late 2019 and had all the masters completed by early 2020.

 We had planned an album release at one of the best local venues and had some good plans to make a solid push with the album. But….2020 happened, and literally a week before we were set to have the album release show, Covid hit, and everything closed. So, after a year of waiting, building the band, and building the album in 2019, we had to spend yet another year waiting while 2020 happened. It was frustrating, but we wanted to give this album the best chance to succeed since it was our debut LP, and we waited Covid out rather than obscurely release it during the pandemic when much of the industry was uncertain and unstable.

 I think the waiting was good for us. It gave us time to settle in with our new lineup and rethink our release campaign. It also tested us—tested our commitment and how much faith we had in the project.

 When is Millennial Nation slated for release? What can you tell us about this album?

The single “City of July” release July 1. Then we will release our 2nd single “The Heart Beats On” August 1, followed by the full LP on Sept. 1.

 This is an album about tomorrow. It means we haven’t gotten where we’re going yet, and we are not yet who we are going to be as individuals, as a generation, as an American nation. It means we’re trying to get somewhere—trying to arrive. Until then, life happens.

 The characters on this album are always going somewhere but they arrive nowhere. There’s always some place over the horizon where something wonderful is about to happen, and where the things they hope for might wait for them. This is a hopeful project because tomorrow has yet to be lived. Therefore, the future’s wide open. It’s like a book of blank pages waiting for the rest of a story, our story—the story of all Americans—to be written. The album “Millennial Nation,” we hope, depicts one small chapter in a much grander story.

 Besides the LP, did the pandemic affect your career in any other ways?

It affected us in every way imaginable—no shows, no releases, for a while, no rehearsal even. However, it gave a tremendous opportunity to reset, and to grow. I think we are better because of it.

 With restrictions lifting, are you planning to do some live shows?

Yes, we have shows booked in July, August, and September. We plan to play much more after the album is released. We’re ready to get back in the groove.

What’s next for you? Do you have any other projects?

We want to continue to grow as a band and push this into a career for all of us. We currently have written about half of our next album and plan to begin recording that when the time is right.

 Thanks so much for the chat. Make sure you check out Remain’s latest single “City of July,” on all streaming platforms. We can’t wait to hear the long-awaited Millennial Nation LP.

 Connect with Remain:

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Sharing is caring!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *