Sub Urban is poised for total pop domination. His single ‘Cradles’ is one of the most TikTok’ed tracks of all time, and that doesn’t begin to scratch the ice.
The New Jersey-based singer, songwriter and producer has just released his highly-anticipated debut EP Thrill Seeker, and boy is it a welcome breath of fresh air. The haunting body of work is a masterful exploration of adolescence that cements Sub Urban as a true pop innovator.
“’Thrill Seeker’ tells a story of adolescent imperfection from the perfectionist,” Sub Urban explains. “I wrote and produced the collection of songs from the ages of 16 to 18. Every song takes me to a different headspace cultivated by my youth: turmoil and sheer angst contrasted by theatrical self-awareness and worldly dissociation.”
Alongside the release of the EP, Sub Urban has offered up a deliciously dark music video for track ‘Freak’. Oozing with a vaudevillain aura that harks back to the glory days of Panic! At The Disco, it’s a total theatrical feast.
To celebrate the release of the EP, we sent through Sub Urban a bunch of burning Get To Know Questions. So check out the video, chuck on the EP, and delve deep into the peculiar world Sub Urban.
How did your artist name come about?
It derived from my last name, Maisonneuve. It’s French for “new house”. To break it down, Sub means under, and Urban could refer to Society, together it’s a reference to the underworld or hell. Edgy.
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How would you describe your music to your grandma?
If either of my grandmothers were still alive, I would probably describe it as “the future is now old man”. But they’re both recently passed so bless their hearts and rest their souls.
Tell us about a few of your tracks; their titles and what they’re about?
I recently released my debut EP called Thrill Seeker, 7 tracks written during my adolescence.
Among those tracks, some songs I will mention – Freak, a theatrical piece written about sexual desire and the condescending nature of man branding natural desire as temptation or sin when it would be considered natural instinct among any other animal, especially in a religious context. The lyrics are circus themed, specifically freak-show themed, intended to carry this motif of ostracism and taboo. We released a music video for Freak to kick off the EP’s release.
Cliché, a rock-esque anthem written about generics and mediocrity and the mass’s quick acceptance of it all and some of the boring parallels I see in my own life, whether it be in story narrative, or the traditional structure of the very song itself, it’s sort of an anti-progressive song compared to my other songs, ironically I wrote this shortly after I wrote my first single Cradles when I was 17.
Cirque is the oldest song I had ever written for this modern release, I originally put a poorly mixed and recorded version of it on SoundCloud before shortly privatising it back when I was 16 in 2016, I had a different sense of composition, it definitely shows off my ability to write something a little more jazzy, something originally intended for Sub Urban before I decided to take a more alt-pop approach.
What do you love about your hometown?
The perfect balance of plant life and civilization
Career highlight so far?
Filming the music video for ‘Cradles’ or ‘Freak’
Fave non-music hobby?
Videogames
What’s on your dream rider?
A fish tank with an Atlantic colossal squid in it, if not that, then a turducken
Dream music collaboration?
joji
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
On an exotic island in the Caribbean, in Tokyo, or or just actually dead
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
If you take the time to pay attention to detail, time will go slower
What’s one obsession you have that no one would guess after listening to your music?
I have an unhealthy obsession with anime
