By: Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: Simeon Rusnak
Via Press Release: “Winnipeg based pop group, Panicland recently released their new single “Wasted”, as a follow up to the group’s successful debut single “Bad Word”, which reached #26 on the Billboard Top 40 Canadian Singles Chart and the Top 20 on CHR. “Wasted” sees Panicland embrace a nostalgic and eclectic style, with the playlist generation in mind.
Panicland consists of, Braedon Horbacio (lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter), Riley Basseo (guitarist), Ian Willmer (bassist) and Travis Hunnie (drummer). As independent artists, through determination and hard work Panicland have managed to create an incredible buzz surrounding their career and have signed to the management team behind the Bare Naked Ladies.
Currently in the studio recording songs co-written by David “DQ” Quiñones (Beyoncé, Enrique Iglesias), Gavin Brown (Billy Talent, Metric), and many more writers in LA, Nashville and Toronto, the band is currently hard at work on their debut album.”
We had the opportunity to chat with lead vocalist Braedon Horbacio and discuss Panicland’s new single, songwriting, and role models.
Kat: Could you talk about the inspiration behind your new single ‘Wasted’?
B.H: I recorded “Wasted” in the middle of the night one night in about an hour. I didn’t actually mean for anyone to hear it except for the person I wrote it for, which was an ex-girlfriend. At first I made her a mixtape of songs by other artists to say what I wanted to say but none of the songs were saying it right, so I wrote this song instead. I wasn’t thinking of the band, radio, fans… nothing except the situation I was in. Then about a year later we thought that is the kind of song people might need. The original version I recorded that night, vocals and all, is the version that we released.
Kat: Could you talk about the songwriting process, and you create together as a group?
B.H: Writing has always been my main interest and I feel like I’m in a band because I write songs, instead of writing songs because I’m in a band. I have a studio at my house called “The Souvenir Shop” that I record in every night. I usually start songs with the intent of no one hearing it. When I listen to the radio I’m listening for which kind of songs aren’t getting played, instead of the kind that are – those are the kind of songs I want to hear, so those the kind of songs I try to write; songs that I think people might really need, not songs that are just a reason for us to further our career.
Kat: Who would say are your musical influences or role models? How have they inspired or shaped your sound?
B.H: My biggest influences have always been people who write simple songs that connect with mass amounts of people. People slam pop music because it’s simple but simple does not mean easy. Simple is very hard. My favourite songwriters have been writers like John Lennon, Billy Joel, Billie Joe Armstrong etc – people who write songs that nail an emotion so specifically that would make a listener think it was written for them and only them, but to have everyone think that… that’s gotta be one of the hardest things a writer could do.
Kat: What has been a highlight of your career so far?
B.H: Hmm, every time I get on a roll in my studio with a new song. That’s it’s the best feeling. I start to feel crazy and literally start hearing sounds that aren’t real. It’s a feeling I can’t get anywhere else and a feeling I chase every day. I’m not sure if that’s a career highlight but that’s the element of all of this that I really love, not necessarily the public stuff or the stuff people see.
Kat: What’s next?
B.H: We have another single coming out very soon… and then another! I really can’t wait for everyone to hear them. To everyone that’s been loving “Wasted”, thank you so much. I’m not just saying that because it’s the right way to end an interview… I really mean it.
For more on Panicland visit: www.paniclandtheband.com