Pop-Rock Band SAFETYSUIT Discuss Their Favorite Memories Through The Years, Their Newest Music And When We Can Expect A New Album!

“Looking Up” is the newest single from the Nashville-based band, Safetysuit. It’s the first new material the group has released since their last album, “These Times” was put out about four years ago.

“Looking Up” was produced by Smith Carlson who is best known for engineering with Ryan Tedder. They also added Tim Pagnetta to put some production on the track too.

“We’ll release an album next year but we’ll release music pretty consistently between now and then,” said Safetysuit lead singer, Douglas Brown when asked about what the single is leading to. “We have to agree on a mix, which can be like pulling teeth. But the next song is done. We’re very liberated by the control we have now. We’ve spent a full career on a major label, which is like a big red tape party where you’re constantly dealing with a hundred moving parts. We just want to get our stuff out to the people who want to hear it. We’ve got a plan with releasing our stuff and it’s going to be a lot more streamlined than it’s been in the past.”

Originally formed in Tulsa, OK, Safetysuit consists of Douglas Brown (lead vocals), Dave Garofalo (electric guitar), Jeremy Henshaw (bass guitar) and Tate Cunningham (percussion). Their 2008 major label debut album “Life Left to Go” featured the songs “Stay” and “Someone Like You”. The band first achieved success by climbing to No. 1 on the VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown. In 2012, SafetySuit released their second album “These Times”, notable for the songs “Let Go” and “These Times”.

Learn more about Safetysuit in the following All Access interview:

Thanks so much for your time today! How’s 2016 been treating the band so far?

It’s been an awesome year so far! Tour in January & February, radio promo for Looking Up in April & May and now we are off to a secluded studio in the mountains and we aren’t coming out until the record is finished.

What do you think have been some of the group’s biggest highlights throughout the years? What are you proudest of today?

Well we are always most proud of our relationship with our fans. We love their passion and we love trying to match it every time we hit the stage. But as far as career milestones, your first record release is always special, being a vh1 you oughta know artist and having a #1 video with Stay was a goal from the start, our second record debuting at #1 on iTunes and #7 on billboard was amazing, and now running our own label is something we are really proud of.

How did the band first get together back in 2002? 

Honestly, we were all just friends and I had written a song and there was a battle of the bands… the rest is history.

Where did the name “SAFETYSUIT” come from?  

It’s actually a combination of two names we were debating. We liked “The Safety” and “Pressure Suit” but we couldn’t get the worldwide trademark on either so we just mashed the two together and called it a day. We were a few months into the search at that point so we were ready to be done. But now we love it… it’s us.

How do you think the band dynamics have changed and grown over the years?

Well thankfully I think we’ve grown as men. We listen to each other better than we did back at the start. Not as much pride. More in sync than we’ve ever been. Much more trust. In a great place, best we’ve ever been.

You kicked off your first tour this January since 2012. What was it like getting back on the road after that long of an absence? 

It was great. Like riding a bike… Thankful people actually showed up! We had some of the best shows of our career.

How would you compare going from a major label to being an independent artist?

There are pros and cons to each. We had some great moments at Universal. People we still love and keep up with today. But right now we are in an exciting time in the music business so we love being lean, fast and in control of our destiny. It’s scary though at the same time. No safety net when you’re the only one working your record. Either way though it’s a rush… and I like that.

Have your tour riders changed at all? And if so, how exactly?

It changes here and there as we find new things we like, but I would put money on that we are one of the easiest bands in the business. Just make sure I have some chocolate for after the show… love me some Reese’s buttercups.

What was the inspiration for your current and newest single, “Looking Up”? How long have you been working on this new collection of music?

With Looking Up we just wanted a song that made you feel good. We had a song called These Times on our last record that we thought was super inspiring and uplifting, but realized after we released it that if you weren’t paying attention to all the words you may actually think it’s a sad song. That was the exact opposite of what we were going for! So we said on this record we were going to have a song that from the first downbeat to the last note of the song, there would be no mistaking it, it was going to make you feel good. It would sound happy & feel happy… all the way through. I think we did it with Looking Up.

As for the new music, it’s been a long, but awesome road. We’ve been working on this new record since the day we released the last one.

When do you hope to release your 3rd full-length album?

It will release in 2016. You can hold me to that.

What artists continue to inspire you through the years? 

Anything from bands like U2 & Coldplay, to more pop centered acts (and also great bands) like Maroon 5 & OneRepublic, to newer artists like Jack Garrett… anyone who isn’t content with their last success. That’s inspiring. 

Who would you love to work with in the future?

JayZ. No doubt. 

At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

I hope it inspires people. I hope it makes you think and I hope it makes you feel good. If we do all that, I think we are doing OK.