As 2010s grungegaze pioneers Superheaven continue to have a resurgence (thanks in part to “Youngest Daughter” going viral on TikTok along with the rise of interest in shoegaze) and they’ve been playing reunion shows here and there, but when it comes to writing new music, co-leaders Taylor Madison and Jake Clarke are staying busy with their newer bands. Taylor leads Webbed Wing (which Jake, who leads Clever Hour, also drums in), and Webbed Wing’s third album Vol. III is out today (7/12) via Will Yip’s Memory Music label. It’s got that same grungegazey exterior that Taylor is best known for, but he injects these songs with a Lemonheads-y jangle and a subtle sense of humor that makes for some of his breeziest, brightest music yet. You can read my full review of the album in Notable Releases, and I also caught up with Taylor over email to chat about the new LP, the Superheaven resurgence, and more. Read on for our chat.
You’ve also got a few chances to catch Webbed Wing live this summer and fall. They open their old friends Pity Sex‘s NYC reunion show at Bowery Ballroom on August 17 alongside Ovlov, Mirsy (aka Fleshwater vocalist Marisa Shirar), and Stand Still; and they also open Rival Schools‘ Pedals tour, including NJ’s Asbury Lanes on October 17 and NYC’s Brooklyn Bowl on October 18. All dates are listed below.
What were some major musical influences on this album?
I literally do not know. Admittedly, I don’t listen to as much music as I should, since I play music and all. But I never really know how to answer these kinds of questions. I guess I tend to be influenced more by my friends and the things they’re doing in music, rather than music I’m just listening to. Does that make sense? In the last couple years, I have watched every music scene across the country explode. People of all ages seem to be excited about music in a way that I don’t think I have ever seen in my lifetime. So I guess watching bands like Drug Church or Militarie Gun or Knocked Loose kind of blow up in this really cool way is inspiring and influential to me.
Tell us about one or more major lyrical theme(s) on this album.
A lot of same-old-shit. Anyone familiar with any of the music I’m involved in knows a lot of my lyrical content is self-deprecating on some level. But I think I try to at least come off self-aware enough to know that nobody wants to just hear some guy in his 30s complain about how hard his life is. In fact, my life has gotten pretty good. And that is scary to me. I think a lot of the lyrical content is that. I’m afraid I’m going to lose what I have. I also have a very, very hard time relating to other people. Tale as old as time, I know. But it’s true. I have never been able to relate to almost anyone. On surface level stuff like music or movies, sure. But actually connecting to people is difficult for me, and I’m not sure why.
What do you most hope people take away from listening to Vol. III?
I think on some level with any music I put out, I just want it to help people understand me. I have a sense of humor, and want that to come through in the music too. And I think that’s important with Webbed Wing because so much of the lyrical content could be read as bleak.
Webbed Wing coincides with Superheaven having a bit of a resurgence. How did you react when “Youngest Daughter” shot up in popularity thanks to TikTok/etc? Did it catch you by surprise that the band was having sort of a second life with new listeners?
I mean, I have obviously been asked about this a lot in the last year. All I can say is it has been awesome. People don’t realize our band was grinding for years, and eating shit all the while. So yeah, it feels good for those songs to get a bit of a second wind. And not to mention, it has made me money. So I cannot complain at all.
What do you make in general of all this new interest in shoegaze and shoegaze-related music? It’s rare to see a niche subgenre become more popular than ever 30+ years into its existence.
I want to say it was only a matter of time that rock/guitar music had some kind of a renaissance, but I am certainly surprised that kind of music became one of the bigger ones.
Superheaven ended not long after Ours Is Chrome came out, and now you’re back and perform somewhat regularly. How has it felt to get out there and play again without the pressures that come with being a rising band?
It has been kind of strange, but so sick. We are in a position where we don’t really have much to lose and kind of just want to do whatever we want, and only play the shit we want to play.
What’s next for Superheaven? Any new music in the works or are you and Jake keeping all your songwriting to Webbed Wing and Clever Hour?
We don’t really know. We’re kind of just figuring things out as they come. All of us are in other bands, and one of us has kids. So we aren’t as free and available to play like we used to, but we are trying to stay somewhat active while we can. I wouldn’t say new music is out of the question, but our time together is pretty restricted to just playing shows right now. We are barely even getting together to practice for some of these shows.
Last question: what’s one newer band you think people should be keeping their eyes on?
Ok two bands – PONY from Toronto are a very sick rock band with very poppy/catchy music. And Slumped from Oakland are another sick rock band with really ripping guitars, if that’s your kind of thing. Both great bands that I’m surprised don’t get more love.
Webbed Wing — 2024 Tour Dates
08/17 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom ^
10/17 Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes *
10/18 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl **
10/19 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair *
10/20 Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom *
10/21 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church *
10/22 Washington, DC @ The Atlantis **
^ w/ Pity Sex, Ovlov, Mirsy, Stand Still
* w/ Rival Schools, Hollow Suns, Twowayradio
** w/ Rival Schools, Hollow Suns, Glom