Western Sydney pop punk legends Oaks are back with their brand new single ‘Chokehold’, and it’s by far their best work yet.
‘Chokehold’ represents a major coming of age for the band, representing a maturing of the juvenile sensibilities that defined their earlier releases, while maintaining the youthful spirit that has seen the band celebrated by their fans and peers. ‘Chokehold’ was written by Oaks in collaboration with Stevie Knight (Stand Atlantic, Yours Truly, Between You & Me) and the song is a major smash, with riotous riffs and the warm yet unapologetic attitude that we’ve come to know and love from Oaks.
Lyrically, guitarist Chris Concepcion explains that “‘Chokehold’ is about a toxic relationship that you’re unable to escape – this song was specifically written about a relationship that was but wasn’t- for me it was a very true feeling and reality. Even though I knew this wasn’t healthy for me, I also treasured a lot of factors about the relationship that made me cling onto it.”
The fresh new song explores real life trials, tribulations and trauma, with vocalist James Graham taking all of these subject matters and dealing with them in poignant pop punk fashion. The song also takes inspiration from popular culture, specifically the classic film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Graham explains that he “…was intrigued by the thematic concerns of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Scott’s struggle especially was a way I could relate the song to the message I wanted to convey. For me the song is about attempting to break free of toxic situations/people. To rid yourself of someone’s baggage that is bringing you down but simultaneously battling and accepting your own past. While it’s a concern of the song, it’s something we want to continue to explore in the future but for now, there is a slight undertone of optimism with both the understanding and acceptance of the situation and that for me, came from the film.”
