Are you a fan of both powerful mosh anthems and heartfelt lyrics? If so, then allow me to introduce you to the three piece, Chicago-based band, Arcadia Grey. Recently, Arcadia Grey released an album, Casually Crashing. This album has racked up over tens of thousands of steams which even led to the band being deemed one of nine emo bands to watch by The Alternative Press.

The album, Casually Crashing, is an album based on the “self dissection” that is the transition from kid to adulthood. When it comes to this transition, we are just expected to follow the system and the typical every day life we see our families live. In this crazy thing called life, it is very easy to just lean on things that help us get through the day. While losing hope in the world and people around us, some may even find themselves losing hope within. The band has been quoted saying, “Our record is the paranoid ghost of the state we were in when these songs were devised, as much as it is the power of music and friends to keep us going even through the darkest of times.”

After listening to Casually Crashing, which has ten songs, you can tell the album is loaded with emotions. I feel as if this album was almost a therapy session for Nat Breeden as a healthy way to express past traumas. I also think it is important to take away from this album that we all come from different walks of life and cope or express ourselves differently. I also would like to point out that the band continues to encourage getting your extreme emotions out with healthy, quiet reflection through their music.

Before getting into the interview, I want to leave you all with a few words. Life will challenge you every day in different aspects, and all of us will react to them differently. With this being said, it is important to be kind to one another and make sure you check in on your friends and loved ones. If you or someone you know ever need someone to talk to, call 988, and if you do not want to talk but prefer to text, you may visit the website at https://988lifeline.org. It is okay to seek help.

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Anthony- Hello! Introduce yourself and the band.

Nat- Hello! My Name is Nat Breeden (they/them). I am one of the lead vocalist and bassist of the band, and sometimes guitar.

Anthony- How did the band start?

Nat- Well, where to start? Cooper and I met in middle school. We would play magic together and have lil D&D sessions with our friend group. Then I moved away for a few years, and when I came back, that’s how I met Cora. It was my first day back in high school in our hometown of Carmel. I had just moved back in the middle of my junior year. I was at lunch and didn’t know where to sit, but I saw Cora wearing a Blink 182 shirt (my favorite band at the time), so I just had to sit with her. We didn’t talk for like 3 weeks. And then one day, we just started chatting about music. We both had a huge interest in the same bands. We would hang out after school and jam, write, and talk. Eventually, I invited Cooper into the group, and that’s how the band formed. We would meet 3 times a week during our freshman year of community college, host our own shows in Cooper’s parent’s garage. And the rest is history. 

Anthony- Who is your musical inspiration?

Nat- Well, there are so many. I think the big ones that we all bonded over were Weezer, Blink 182, Neutral Milk Hotel, Death Cab For Cutie, Remo Drive, Modern Baseball, Prince Daddy and the Hyena, American Football, Origami Angel, PUP, Mom Jeans, and Joyce Manor were all huge influences for us. These are kind of our stonehenge bands, foundational for us. We always look back on these bands when in the writing process.

Anthony- Give us an insider look into your writing process.

Nat- Well, we have two songwriters. Cora is the work horse. She has an immense understanding of music theory and songwriting and can crank out songs like it’s nothing. She will usually have a full demo done and ready for us to learn by practice. I, on the other hand, take a little bit longer to get a song together. I usually bring it to the band as a shell, simple chord structures and a hook. And then we work on it from there. But both ways generally produce a song that we are all happy with and has that Arcadia Grey flare.  

Anthony- What does it mean to the band being named one of nine “emo bands to watch”?

Nat- Ya know, I’m not sure. I think it was pretty cool to be featured as an artist to watch out for. When we started this project, we didn’t think it would take us anywhere, we were just kinda doing it for us. Just having a good time. But now we’ve toured the country quite a few times. Released a few albums, and have such loving audiences that scream our songs back at us. 

Anthony- Walk us through Casually Crashing?

Nat-Casually Crashing is a record that came out of a dark period. That weird cresting point in our lives going from easy going college students to just regular adults trying to survive. Navigating relationships with our families, friends, and the world as we transition (both in gender and figuratively) when the world is seemingly falling apart around us. We recorded the record over at Headroom studios in Philly with Kyle Pulley. He was such a treat to worth with. He loved the songs as much as we did and brought a lot to the table when making these songs sound the way they do. 

Anthony- Do you have a favorite song from the record?

Nat- Personally I love “Origami Crane.” It captures that feeling of dread that you are the problem. That your friends dont actually like you. How hard it can be navigating that imposter syndrome. I also just love the bass line I play there, it really drives the song. I think it’s just a powerful song with so much energy. 

Anthony- US Tour this fall, any spot you are the most excited for?

Nat- I’m super excited to hit the south. We spend a lot of time on the east coast and don’t give the south/ south east enough love. Personally I’m stoked to be playing several shows in Florida. Last year, we played the Fest in Gainesville and it was my first time in Florida. And, honestly, I had a blast! And the people down there are just so kind and lovely. 

Anthony- I always like to ask this question to kind of wrap up- “if not music, what would you be doing”?

Nat- I love my band and I love music. I’ve put so much time into it. But it doesn’t always pay the bills. So honestly, I’m doing the other thing I want to do. Film! I work as a freelance filmmaker. I shoot music videos, promo, content, short films. All sorts of stuff like that. And I love it, too! Been a cinematographer for about 5 years now, when I’m not touring, I’m behind the camera. 

Anthony- Where can people find you on social media and your music?

Nat- You can stream us on all platforms. You can purchase physical media over at the Smartpunk records web store. And you can follow us on twitter, instagram, and tik tok at Arcadia_grey.