Rising punk band Trophy Eyes were born in Newcastle just three years ago, but they’ve already had one hell of a run, packing a huge amount into that time – including a lot of time on tour.
Being out on the road is the breeding ground for both amazing moments and things going wrong, and the boys’ van breaking down while headed for Arizona on last year’s Warped Tour is no exception. But looking further back, frontman John Floreani drops another ill-fated moment, this time from supporting Welsh pop-punkers Neck Deep a few years back.
“We were off the back of Everything Goes Away. We went through four vans from Wicked Campers, they just kept breaking down. We missed our Sydney show, which was our most anticipated one, so that was devastating. But that kind of thing happens all the time. You always have to be prepared to think on your feet and act as quickly as you can.”
Despite those kinds of moments, the band lived their dream out on Warped Tour, and Floreani agrees that getting there certainly didn’t happen overnight.
“Over the span of three years, I didn’t quite notice a dramatic change. It just slowly happened to the point where I’m touring America for the second time. Just thinking back to writing our first few songs… we didn’t even have this as a goal. Warped Tour seemed so far out of reach that we didn’t even hope for that. So being able to play that has just been insane.”
Floreani is extra humbled after hearing that The Wonder Years frontman Dan “Soupy” Campbell shouted out Trophy Eyes as the only band making him stop in his tracks all summer while on the tour.
“That’s pretty weird [laughs]. I’m a big fan of The Wonder Years, and it’s really great for someone that we idolise to say something about us like that. It’s crazy to know these people now, as friends on tour in different countries in the world. If I went back and told my 15-year-old self that was happening, I’d call myself a liar.
“I guess this happens to everybody who tours, because you spend every day together for a month or so… But it’s a bittersweet thing, because then you leave and you’re not sure when you’re going to see them again, like with all these international bands we’re friends with like As It Is and Seaway…
“It’s cool though to get back into it and see how everyone’s progressed. You can catch up for like six months at a time.”
The five-piece are set to play a Toronto show, supporting fellow Aussies and metalcore greats The Amity Affliction, and John enthuses that playing with them has been “fantastic”.
“We got to tour with them at home briefly, and being here with them is awesome as well. Seeing so much of America is always fun, and they’re super great guys, always happy to hang and help out. It’s been a dream.”
The boys only wrapped up that stellar Aussie run less than two weeks ago, and a surreal moment for Floreani was not only playing their lead single ‘Chlorine’ live for the first time, but seeing everyone in the Brisbane crowd singing along.
‘Chlorine’ is only one standout track in a sea of gems on their new record Chemical Miracle, out today. It’s no surprise that the group reunited with good mate and producer Shane Edwards (Northlane, Hellions) at Karma Sound Studios in Thailand. Edwards first worked with Trophy Eyes back in 2013 on ‘Hourglass’, their debut release from the Everything Goes Away EP. The vocalist affirms that their collaboration was much stronger this time because “we were more open to having someone produce for us”.
“Last time we went with him, we were like ‘This is our first album and our baby. Don’t touch this motherfucker.’ We’ve always been the best of friends, but we had a little butting of heads. This time, we were all on the same wavelength. The songs were done on our end, and they needed a different perspective. That’s exactly what Shane did. He made them all-around better songs, so we should be grateful.
“There’s obviously a time for work but then also time for hanging out. Just doing that with Shane as one of our good friends… If that’s not what constitutes a member of the band, than I couldn’t imagine what does.”
However, an unhealthy habit which reared its head while making Chemical Miracle was Floreani’s cigarette smoking. It plagued him while working on their debut effort Mend, Move On just two years ago, and the vocalist admits, “When it comes to warming up and being ready, I’m irresponsible”.
“I should just not be smoking or drinking, and should be getting sleep. But instead I’m busy having a good time, and all of a sudden I have to record. That sucks on my end, especially for the rest of the guys in the band because they’re doing their part as well.
“I thought I could get away with it again and smoke through it, but I did have a problem with my voice very early on. I slowed down on the cigarettes and drinking a little bit, and my voice became stronger in every single way. So I was happy, and having Shane there as well, helping with the vocal warms-up and stuff like that… he knows exactly how to get what he wants out of me, so it was very handy having him there.”
The conversation then speaks to music’s therapeutic nature as Floreani considers new track ‘Breathe You In’. A powerful song full of self-deprecation and emotion, it explores the feeling of wanting the best for your significant other, especially in the frontman’s case when he can’t physically be there for his girlfriend most of the time.
“It’s something I don’t normally talk about, so being able to sing about things that are so important to me helps a lot with the situation,” he confesses, dragging on a cigarette. “I feel like I can write it out better than I can say it… Throughout the record, I talk about literally everything I thought, from break-ups and being single to the attempted suicide of friends… Even how I see life today from when I was a kid to now, being a 25-year-old man and your average guy.
“I guess the whole album is a philosophical reflection of my life… I’ve matured quite a lot. I’ve seen so much more of the world than ever before, meeting all these different people and being subjected to so many different types of music.”
Yet one thing that hasn’t changed about the musician is his personality, and with a chuckle Floreani admits “I still feel like a 16-year-old kid in my brain. But now I’m more prone to go to bed at 10 if I can [laughs]. I’m sleeping a lot more now than partying. I like reading or being chill, because there’s never any privacy touring. I’d like to think I’m a social person, but I really enjoy my time at home with my family and girlfriend.”
Considering the stresses they’ve had on tour, we’re not all that surprised.
Catch up with Trophy Eyes yourself with their blistering sophomore record Chemical Miracle, out today via Hopeless Records.
