The Emo Social Club Podcast

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Huddy on 'Burn the Ballroom Down' & Why Emo is a Spirit, Not Just a Look Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

"I really love instrumentation and production and lyrics and... giving people a feeling that they can relate to."

Joining us from the seclusion of the Artist Lounge at Vans Warped Tour in Orlando, Huddy breaks down what it means to be an artist in the modern alternative scene. While often associated with the new wave of pop-punk, this conversation dives deep into the music history and influences that shape his sound—specifically his current obsession with heavy hitters like I Prevail and the "violent nature" of their tracks.

We explore the "spirit of emo," moving past the aesthetic to focus on the raw instrumentation and relatable lyrics that defined the genre's history. Huddy opens up about festival anxiety, the frustration of set-time conflicts, and the sonic evolution behind his new single, "Burn the Ballroom Down." Whether you are a nostalgic millennial or discovering the scene today, this episode connects the dots between personal growth and the changing landscape of alternative music.

Key Topics & Timestamps:

Introduction: Soaking in the weather at Vans Warped Tour Orlando
Dealing with festival anxiety and watching from the Artist Lounge
Current heavy rotation: Discovering I Prevail and "Violent Nature"
The Artist’s Dilemma: Playing a set while your favorite band is on stage
Defining the Genre: Why Huddy believes emo is a spirit, not a look
The story behind the new single "Burn the Ballroom Down"
Pivoting to a more mature, alternative sound
New influences: The Marias, Scouse rap, and Tame Impala

Guest/Band Links:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/huddy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huddy
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huddy
Official Website: https://www.huddyMusic.com

Episode Highlights:

"It's not fair. But at the same time, it's just artist problems, you know? You know, just girly things."

"I discovered the Marias this year... and I really f***ing love them."

"It's about the message... how you put it and what you stand for."

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

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Slow Joy on Texas Shoegaze, Opening for The Academy Is... & Channeling Idles Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

"You ever been beaten down by life after 30 years? ... That's the genesis of Slow Joy. It's just emotionally driven lyrics and things that make sense really loud."

In this episode, we sit down with Esteban from Slow Joy at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago to discuss the reality of tour life and the release of his deluxe record, A Joy Even Slower. Bridging the gap between the Myspace era and today's alternative waves, Esteban breaks down how growing up in the Dallas music scene influenced his unique sound—a mix of "hot and sludgy" shoegaze and anthem-heavy emo.

We explore his deep love for Taking Back Sunday (specifically the Louder Now era) and the cinematic history of the "The Ghost of You" music video. Esteban also opens up about his vocal evolution, moving from trying to emulate Midwest emo tappies to channeling the raw power of Joe Talbot from Idles and Citizen. Whether you are a nostalgic millennial or an emo revivalist, this conversation connects the history of the genre to its exciting future.

Key Topics & Timestamps:

Introduction: The reality of tour life and the "Venn Diagram" of sleep vs. food
The Emo Check: Why Taking Back Sunday's "Makedamnsure" is the perfect song
Fun Fact: How the director of "The Ghost of You" went on to direct Spider-Man
Defining the Slow Joy sound: "Life beating you down"
Deep dive into the deluxe album A Joy Even Slower and Modest Mouse influences
Touring with The Academy Is... and the kindness of 2000s legends
The Texas Scene Report: Dallas, Denton, and the "sludgy" shoegaze sound
Vocal techniques: Channeling Idles and Citizen vs. Midwest Emo math rock
Where to find Slow Joy online

Guest/Band Links:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/SlowJoy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slowjoy.official
Official Website: https://www.slowjoymusic.com/

Episode Highlights:

"I'm not cool enough to do the shoegaze thing. So I just kind of live in a world where you sing like these bright, cool melodies and then do that melodic rock stuff."

"I'm just gonna do my best Joe Talbot impression... that 'tough guy' voice thing that I do. Everybody is like, 'Oh, that's like Citizen.' And I was like, 'No, I'm actually just trying to do Joe [from Idles].'"

"You can do two things half-a**ed... or I'm gonna do one thing at a time. Especially when you get into those punky, newer tracks."

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

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Lúpína on Iceland's Emotional DIY Scene & The "Þetta reddast" Mentality Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

"We have this phrase called Þetta reddast, which we say a lot, and it's just like the things will work out somehow. And I think that describes it quite well."

We're live from Reykjavik for the Iceland Airwaves festival! Brian sits down with Icelandic experimental pop artist Lúpína to discuss the vibrant and creative local music scene. Lúpína shares why singing in her native Icelandic language feels so special and how her music, while not strictly "emo," is built entirely around emotion. She describes the unique DIY culture of Reykjavik , where gigs happen in record stores and bookshops , all driven by the national mentality of "Þetta reddast" (things will work out). We also discuss her use of vocal effects , her collaboration with Dadi Freyr , and why Icelandic music has such a unique, spacious, and electronic sound.

Key Topics & Timestamps:

[00:25] The most emo song Lúpína is listening to (Highasakite)

[01:53] The special feeling of singing in Icelandic

[02:53] The Reykjavik DIY Scene & "Þetta reddast"

[04:51] Defining the Lúpína sound (Experimental Pop)

[05:16] Why Icelandic music has so much "space"

[07:03] Collaborating with Dottie Frere

[08:15] Why is there so much talent in Iceland?

[08:53] Where to find Lúpína

Guest/Band Links:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2WBanXfuVc8n09WZIwhGGc?si=YiETkPVDRNagWrb1j1EFiQ&nd=1&dlsi=8d47dbe1c9ee4f7a

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lupina.is/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@eg.er.lupina/

Official Website: https://lupinamusic.com/

Episode Highlights:

"I wouldn't categorize my music as emo, but it all comes from emotions and it's all built around emotions."

"I feel like there's something about singing in your native language that's just really special."

"We have this phrase called Þetta reddast... it's just like the things will work out somehow."

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

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Underoath on 20 Years of 'They're Only Chasing Safety' & The "Wake Up Call" That Changed Their Career Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

"We have literally... been had a wake up call." Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath gets brutally honest about why the band can no longer ignore TikTok and social media.

What does "emo" even mean? We're live on the tour bus with Spencer Chamberlain and Chris Dudley of Underoath to figure it out. We dive deep into the 20th anniversary of their foundational album, They're Only Chasing Safety , and how its success paved the way for their entire career.

The band reflects on their early "hardcore band" roots , their complicated "Christian rock" label , and how old-school emo influences like Jimmy Eat World shaped their sound.

More importantly, we connect that history to the present day. Spencer and Chris share a major "wake up call" about the music industry , giving candid advice to new bands on why TikTok and social media are no longer optional , and why the era of "mystery in rock n roll" is over. This is a must-listen for anyone who grew up with the band and any new artist trying to navigate the modern scene.

Key Topics & Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Welcome Spencer & Chris of Underoath

[00:00:14] What is the most "emo" song you're listening to right now?

[00:02:56] The influence of bands like Jimmy Eat World

[00:05:05] Reflecting on 20 years of They're Only Chasing Safety

[00:05:55] How Chasing Safety enabled the band's future

[00:07:52] Thinking about new music: Getting in a room with "no electronics"

[00:09:00] The importance of "creative limits" in art

[00:11:24] How Underoath decides on a "sound" for a new record

[00:14:44] Does the "scene" (like Knocked Loose) influence their writing?

[00:16:00] "If you follow what's popular, you're always five years too late."

[00:22:13] Honest advice for new artists in 2025

[00:23:02] Chris: "Advice... based on our experience... is not valid anymore."

[00:24:52] Spencer: Why record labels require a TikTok presence now

[00:26:58] The "wake up call" that changed their view on social media

[00:27:28] "Mystery in Rock n Roll was sick... You can't."

[00:29:05] You don't have to be an artist or a content creator; you can be both

[00:31:45] Reflecting on the "Christian Rock" label

[00:34:03] The Flyleaf TikTok revival

[00:35:00] Upcoming tour dates (UK, Emo's Not Dead Cruise)

Guest/Band Links:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/31R61sOfP4C2D80NCSOund

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/underoathband/

Official Website: https://www.underoath777.com/

Tour Dates: https://www.underoath777.com/pages/tour

Episode Highlights:

"I look at it more as... the fact that people connected with that record so much made it to where we could do everything after."

"I am not going to be... we have a band coming on tour with us. The singer's got a million followers, can't sell 100 tickets... We can sell out every room in America. Why does it f***ing matter?"

"[Labels said] it has to be popular on TikTok first... We have literally... been had a wake up call."

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

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Arms Length on Being Canadian Emo, Hot Mulligan Tour Prep, and When We Were Young Fest Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

Join us for a chat with Canadian emo-revival band Arms Length immediately following their set at the When We Were Young festival. We dive into what makes the band so inherently "emo," which they attribute to their "northern sadness" and the isolation of their Canadian upbringing. Despite living comfortable lives, their music channels the feelings of mental illness and translates it into a sound reminiscent of early 2000s bands. The band discusses the process of writing their latest, highly anticipated album, described by the hosts as "the most devastating album I've ever listened to". They reveal that the writing process was surprisingly therapeutic and fun , taking a few years to process life events and allowing the lyrics to be fully realized. We also get a look at their nerves and excitement for playing a major nostalgia festival like WWWY and their upcoming tour with Hot Mulligan and Drug Church, which they are taking extremely seriously.

Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction and catching up with Arms Length at When We Were Young Fest
[00:23] The most emo song they are listening to right now (Ethel Cain, The Used, Mount Eerie)
[01:46] What makes Arms Length so emo: "Northern Sadness" and isolation
[02:56] The therapeutic process of writing their "devastating" album
[04:32] Preparing for the massive tour with Hot Mulligan and Drug Church
[06:40] Performing for the first time at When We Were Young and the nervousness
Spotify:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armslengthblues/?hl=en

Official Website: https://armslengthmusic.com/

Tour Dates: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/5931394-arm's-length?affil_code=js_armslengthmusic.com&app_id=js_armslengthmusic.com&came_from=242&utm_campaign=artist&utm_medium=web&utm_source=widget

JOIN THE CLUB! Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter

Support the Show:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify

Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it

Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv

It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

JOIN THE CLUB!

Support the Show:

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Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it
Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv

It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

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The Summer Set's Brian Dales on Their Emo Identity & New Album 'Meet Me In The Record Store' Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

"I don't think people think of us when they think of emo. Probably we covered 'Mamma Mia' by ABBA today. That was emo. Yeah."

Join the "Meeting of the Brians" as we sit down with Brian Logan Dales of The Summer Set right after their set at the When We Were Young festival. Despite playing an acoustic show in Tucson and driving through the night to make it, Dales brings his trademark high energy. We discuss the band's sometimes-contested place in emo history, with Brian admitting they see themselves as an attitude-driven pop-rock band with "one foot in, one foot out." He gives a look behind the scenes of their latest album, Meet Me In The Record Store, a passion project five years in the making that they treated like their "first album all over again". This latest work reflects what The Summer Set sounds like as an adult band, writing about everything from girls to existential crises. Dales talks about the process of letting the songs "fine wine" as demos for years , and how they balanced the setlist at the nostalgia festival between fan-favorite older songs and the new material. Find out which song Dales played on an overnight drive, and hear about the time he mistakenly played a Puddle of Mudd cover at Emo Nitet. The The Summer Set is back, on tour, and ready for fans to see them anytime

Band Links:

Spotify:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesummerset/?hl=en

Official Website: https://www.thesummerset.com/

Tour Dates: https://www.thesummerset.com/tour

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction and catching up with Brian Logan Dales of The Summer Set
[00:24] The most emo song Brian was listening to recently (Jack's Mannequin)
[01:10] What makes The Summer Set "emo" or not and the pop-rock identity
[02:15] The adult themes and five-year process behind the album Meet Me In The Record Store
[03:22] Balancing old songs, new songs, and covers at a nostalgia festival
[04:24] Emo Nite, setlist decisions, and the infamous "She Hates Me" incident

Support the Show:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify

Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

JOIN THE CLUB!

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

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Letlive on 'The Blackest Beautiful' & The Physicality of Emo as Liberation Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

"I think that honestly, it was the only place that I felt safe expressing myself at such a, like a level of emotional vulnerability. Just vulnerability in general, even with the physicality of it."

Emo Social Club connects the Myspace era to today's waves by exploring the music that defined us and the emotions that still resonate. In this powerful episode, we sit down with the influential post-hardcore band Letlive to talk about the remastered edition of 'The Blackest Beautiful' and their reunion shows. The band discusses the intense physicality and emotional release of their performances, emphasizing that their music has always been a safe, collective space for genuine expression. We also talk about the challenge of fighting commodification in art and the importance of paving the road for the new emo bands of the revival scene. Don't miss the answer to what song they think best represents Letlive in 2025!

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction and catching up with Letlive at When We Were Young Fest in Las Vegas
[01:00] The most emo song they are listening to right now
[01:40] What makes Letlive so emo and the safety of emotional vulnerability
[02:50] The role of physicality in their performance—literally kickflipping a guitar
[04:20] Speaking out against corporatization and commodification in the music scene
[05:40] Why the band reunites and the intention behind making new music
06:30] Focus on supporting young, unsigned bands and the emo revival
[07:16] Shout-out to new band, Beauty School Dropout
Band Links:

Spotify:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letliveperiod/?hl=en

Official Website: https://www.letliveperiod.com/

Tour Dates: https://www.letliveperiod.com/#tour

Support the Show:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify

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Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv

It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves

JOIN THE CLUB!

Support the Show:

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

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Bad Religion on Emo's Foundations & Playing the Biggest Festivals Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

"We were just trying to talk about, like, evolution and man's inhumanity to man, and I don't really ever think we got to the core, the bedrock of emo experience."

In this episode of Emo Social Club, we chat with Brian of the legendary punk band Bad Religion about the band's enduring legacy and their connection to the emo and pop punk scene. Even with a focus on heavier topics like evolution and "man's inhumanity to man," Brian acknowledges the unintentional emo history all over their sound. He shares that their influence on the genre was never a plan but a product of being in the right place at the right time. Bad Religion's body of work has inspired people cross genre, which is why they get invited to both massive emo revival festivals and "insane black metal kill your mom festivals". Brian also gives his thoughts on the current punk environment, stressing the importance of new bands making their own thing and the pure joy of participating in music. It's a fantastic conversation connecting the original California punk scene to today's waves.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction: Talking with Brian from Bad Religion
[00:09] Brian on his enjoyment of emo in small doses
[00:20] The most emo song he's listening to right now: "Drink Deep" by Rites of Spring
[00:34] Why Bad Religion is considered emo—the unintentional foundation
[01:01] Feeling honored to be invited into the current emo and pop-punk wave
[01:20] Playing both huge emo festivals and "insane black metal" shows
[02:05] Bad Religion's legacy: Playing good songs and genuinely loving to play
[02:30] Not wanting to see old bands that are "phoning it in"
[03:22] Why the current punk environment doesn't need Bad Religion's help or advice
[03:41] Seeing wonderful, intense, new bands like Doubt and Dry Socket
[04:28] Touring with The Offspring next year

Band Links:

Spotify:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badreligionband/?hl=en

Official Website: https://badreligion.com/

Tour Dates: https://badreligion.com/tour
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Support the Show:

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

JOIN THE CLUB!

Support the Show:

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

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Taylor Acorn on Her Zen Pre-Show Ritual & Writing About Mental Health Oct 25, 2025

Show notes

"I gotta listen to a little bit of Zen... I need to balance it. I'm like, cry a little bit. I don't know."

Live from the middle of the desert, we're hanging out with Taylor Acorn right after her massive set at When We Were Young Festival 2025! Taylor was shocked to see how many people chose her set over scene legends Mayday Parade, who were playing at the same time. We even broke the news to her that she has her own billboard out on the Las Vegas strip.

Instead of a high-energy pump-up playlist, Taylor walks us through her pre-show ritual, which involves getting Zen and finding balance by listening to Counting Crows—a stark contrast to the energy drink she's usually drinking at the same time. She opens up about what makes her music so emo, citing her longtime struggles with mental health and her passion for writing about her experiences to help others feel less alone. It's this authenticity that resonates with so many fans. We also get the details on her brand new record, which is available now!

Key Topics & Timestamps:
[00:07] Playing When We Were Young & Competing with Mayday Parade
[00:39] The Surprise Billboard on the Vegas Strip
[01:04] Pre-Show Rituals: Getting Zen with Counting Crows
[03:45] Her Upcoming New Record & Where to Find It

Guest/Band Links:

Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1A0WloDoRE88uUwo3wensY]
Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/tayloracornmusic/]
Official Website: [https://www.tayloracorn.com/]

Episode Highlights:

"Mayday Parade was playing at the same time. So I was like, honestly, I would be at their set too."

"Before I play a show, I listen to Counting Crows... it kind of just like, relaxes me in a way."

"I've struggled with my mental health for many, many years. And so it's something that I write about a lot and something that I know very well."

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