Interview with Homebase

Homebase have been steadily carving out their own space, favouring atmosphere and intention over noise and excess. Their latest single captures that approach perfectly, leaning into mood, restraint, and a quiet confidence that feels deliberate rather than accidental. Rather than chasing trends, the band seem focused on saying exactly what needs to be said and nothing more, allowing the music to carry its weight naturally.

We caught up with Homebase to talk about the thinking behind the new release, their current creative headspace, and how this track fits into the wider picture of their sound. From process and perspective to instinct and identity, the band open up on what’s driving them forward right now.

Q: What does the latest single represent in terms of where the band are creatively right now, rather than where you’ve been?

A: Curly: This single is definitely a representation of growth. Especially when it comes to where we came from as a band a year and a half ago. This single definitely comes from a place of “just send it” and reminds us not to hold back when it comes to writing something really cool sounding. The title “nuff said” it’s self is a statement to ourselves saying, “ok no more talking, it’s time to just write, no holding back anymore, no more restraints” which has allowed us to creatively expand on chords, leads, and really cool instrumental and vocal parts that we would have never thought of before.

Q: How intentional was the restraint in this release, and was it ever tempting to push the track further than it needed to go?

A: Curly: Just like any new band, we were so excited to just put stuff out immediately and as soon as possible. We even uploaded some demos onto SoundCloud just to get something out. But then we had a conversation about it and realized it would be way smarter to wait until we had something professional and polished.We wanted to release something that we would be proud of and would listen to ourselves as if it were one of our favorite bands.

Q: What conversations were happening within the band while this song was coming together, and how did they shape the final version?

A: Curly: It was a mix of just regular music stuff and personal conversations about our past experiences. The things we talked about not only gave us a sense of relief, but gave us the ability to be accepting and open to each other’s ideas. This allowed us to just bounce off each other and free flow between ideas, to best serve the song and make it as hard hitting as possible.

Q: In what ways does this single challenge or reinforce the sound people associate with Homebase?

A: Curly: In different ways this new song both challenges and reinforces the ideas and sounds that homebase produces. Not only does it align perfectly within the pop punk aspect that bold introduced, it also confronts new fields of riffs, sounds, and different genre styles we never thought we could blend together.

Q: How early did you know what kind of mood you wanted this track to sit in, and what helped you stay committed to that direction?

A: Curly: It took nearly a year for us to fully realize where the mood of the song was going to sit. The song was written in 2024 and had a completely different meaning. Feelings about overwhelming tasks quickly shifted into feelings of inadequacy based off shared traumas within the band. This is primarily what fueled our dedication to the writing of this song.

Q: What part of the writing or recording process for this song took the longest to get right, and why was it worth the patience?

A: Tony: Constructing the lyrics was probably the longest we took to get right. I mean we had s few setbacks for the instrumentals but over time, we had a rhythm going for what we wanted it to sound like. It’s okay to throw in a few metaphors here and there but keeping the flow of a story going was the hardest part. The emotional aspect was something we put a lot of thought into and was worth every second to figure out.

Q: Do you see this single more as a statement, a snapshot, or a stepping stone and what makes it that for you?

A: Tony: We definitely see it as a stepping stone in what we want to accomplish in our writing, so to speak. We always had an idea of how we wanted to present ourselves through our music but this was the first time we actually saw a spark in that. There are a crazy amount of influences that are crammed into this one single and it might be obvious to some people, but to others it might be something meaningful. We’re very stoked to see what else we can present based on the excitement we had for this one song.

Q: How does this release reflect your current approach to songwriting compared to previous material?

A: Tony: We think it’s safe to say that this song is miles away from the songwriting we had before.

Not to say that our songwriting was bad before we started Homebase but it was never really set in stone for us. We were kind of stuck in that 2000’s pop punk phase where most of our songs stemmed from influences like blink 182 and All Time Low. At a certain point, that ‘punk kid’ lifestyle we put in our lyrics tended to lose touch with us personally and it was time we needed a change of direction. We became more honest, more self aware, and more open to change. Not just as young adults but as musicians as well and we think this song kept that energy we loved while also expressing the nature of emotional turmoil

Q: Was there a moment during production where the song almost went in a completely different direction?

A: Tony: There were a few moments of concern about that idea but we were kind of open to it as well. Going to the studio was not only an awesome experience but it also put our ego to the test. Most bands have this problem where they’ll get so invested in their own demos that when other ideas come up for remastering, denial starts to settle in and nothing really gets done. We had a problem like that in the past but we accepted the possibility of a few changes here and there. Honestly, looking back at it, the most amount of changes we made was adding lyrics and changing guitar tones.

Q: What role did instinct play in finishing this track, compared to careful planning or revision?

A: Tony: There was a moment where the breakdown of the song never had any lyrics. It was literally just gonna end the same way just with no singing. At first, we didn’t mind it but over time, it was clear that it was pretty empty. Out of nowhere, our singer just compiled a bunch of lyrics on a piece of paper we found in the studio. Just before we wanted to wrap up, we asked Rob, our producer, if we could test out the lyrics during the breakdown. It was done in such short notice to where we thought it was just going to be a waste of time, but now we find that it’s debatably the most memorable part of the song.

Q: How important was authenticity when shaping this single, and were there any compromises you refused to make?

A: Matt: Writing this song was pretty frustrating to make. Rather than just finishing quickly, the genuineness was more valuable to us of-course. At first there was the idea of making a sick, heavy, head bobbing type of song that we were excited to play around with. And as the song continued to form, we began to focus on the message behind it all. We refused to do a lot of things we each had ideas for. Some ideas involved maybe cutting some lyrics short, or causing a break in the song instrumentally somewhere. We needed the lyrics to be perfect and sit in the right pocket. We knew exactly where things were meant to go, and we refused to have it anything less than that. We even had moments where things may have sounded pretty dang cool. But we agreed some aspects had to have been cut for the greater picture.

Q: What do you think this track reveals about the band that listeners might not hear on a first listen?

A: Matt: I think what the track reveals about our band is that we have this urge to take the sound further than anticipated, and to show how much care we take to make sure It marks exactly what we’d want to hear in a song within this genre. It may not be apparent during the first listen. But man, the more you listen to the song, you really get to hear the sound continue to move forward. We’re a band about progression. I hope this song and many others in the near future continue to highlight this aspect about ourselves.

Q: How do you decide when a song is saying enough without overexplaining itself?

A: Matt: I think it’s gotta be the emotion you get when you’re really diving into the lyrics. It’s open ended just enough for you to maybe relate to a line or two. (Hopefully maybe the whole song) And it’s not overbearing by cramming tongue twisting phrases with wording. This may also seem vague, but its the type of feeling you get when writing a song, you kinda know when theres a need to keep adding on, or when to stop because it sits just right. Not just contextually, but emotionally.

Q: What kind of response do you hope this single sparks? not just emotionally, but in how people talk about your music?

A: Matt: I really hope that the song gets people saying, “Yo did you hear that new song Homebase pushed out? That shit is TUFF!” I hope people recognize and feel the energy we put into this song, and are able to relay that to those who may also appreciate the sound. Id want people to talk about the cool breakdowns, the high screaming vocals, and how we got our audience to go on this cool musical journey within the song itself.

Q: Looking at this release in the wider context of your catalogue, where does it sit in terms of growth and confidence?

A: Matt: Nuff Said represents a pivotal point of growth for the band. Looking back at Bold, we challenged and butted-heads to truly define what encompasses the 'Homebase' sound. We were far more intentional and questioned every part. Instead of rushing, we trusted our instincts to aim higher. As a result, it highlighted our commitment to grow and evolve our sound into something we are still comprehending in this moment. Personally, it challenged myself to go further with my vocals. I was finally able to put out a higher range. Something I had been fighting to achieve for years now, and it's as if this song unlocked that skill for me. Rather than playing it safe, we leaned into it. Having the confidence to try something completely new to us, and to hear it within the mix made us realize we’re onto something crazy.