Not long after their second album “Clothbound,” the Sonder Bombs singer Willow Hawks found themselves struggling with mental illness. Writing music bared a double edge — catharsis on one side, self-doubt and insecurity on the other.
They contemplated walking away, but then a song sprang forth.
Released on Thursday, “The Star” makes for an unabashed emo anthem. Hawks’ voice comes through as defiant and hopeful alongside the words “I will leave behind everything I cherish. Or not, or not, or not.”
“I wrote this song almost in a panic,” Hawks says in a recent statement. “It came from being completely submerged in that pain for long periods at a time.”
Coinciding with the Sonder Bombs’ usual pop-punk flavor, “The Star” takes on an indie-pop influence reminiscent of Los Angeles outfit Illuminati Hotties, whose own Sarah Tudzin mixed the track.
According to Hawks, inspiration for the song lacks an inciting incident. Rather, it expresses feelings built and processed over time. The band formed seven years ago when Hawks was just 19 — where the singer once used music to express themselves in the moment, now they prefer a more tempered approach: They process those feelings. Songs are written retrospectively and often from a happier perspective.
The songwriter cautions young artists to be leery of constantly writing from a place of sadness. You don’t need misery to make art.
“I used to think that way, I really did. And so I just want to say that that is not true,” Hawks says. “You will have the most fun and it'll be the most fulfilling and rewarding when you are showing up for yourself. That’s how I feel.”
The band has yet to announce a Cleveland release show. However, you’re sure to hear the latest jam if you catch the Sonder Bombs on its upcoming tour with Hunny. Stream “The Star” on all platforms, thesonderbombs.com
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