The Beaches are doing it for themselves. The four-piece from Canada have created the ultimate, infectious breakup album Blame My Ex that touches on heartbreak and growth through angsty adrenaline-induced tracks like the viral, name-calling 'Blame Brett', to the honest, introspective 'Shower Beer'. Since going independent, the band has made music for themselves to listen to, and as a result it's the best music they've made. We spoke to Leandra from The Beaches to talk about this new chapter and the freedom they're feeling:

‍The album is incredible, we’re so excited for you. You've said this is the most authentic and real version of The Beaches. Why do you think that is?

Thank you so much! we’re finally making the kind of music that we all listen to. This is the first album we’ve made where we all actually listen to it daily. The pandemic pause gave us a chance to really figure out who we were and what kind of music we wanted to make. Our breakups kind of took over, but we still used everything we learned about ourselves to put that into healing and writing.

The album is about breakups, but of course there are many layers to it. What did you learn about yourselves through creating and recording this album?

We learned how to better communicate with each other. There are lots of stages to a breakup and a couple of us are currently going through rat girl summer/still finding out who we are. The most important thing to remember is to always come from a place of love and understanding when someone in the band is going through a roller coaster ride of emotions - from happiness to grief and everything in between.

How do you think going independent has impacted your music?

We only have each other to answer to now. If something feels good, we run with it. It’s scary to bet on ourselves, but it’s also the best feeling in the world to know that everything we’re doing is 100% what we want to be doing.

You worked with producers Lowell and Gus Van Go - how do you think they influenced the sound and vibe?

Le: It’s the first time we’ve really gone back to co-writing in a long time, so we were very open to the whole collaborative experience with both Lowell & Gus. It was a very open, honest, and supportive room where they both became our therapists and were there to lift us up. They made us feel heard and were there to take out ideas to the next level. They are both geniuses and we are so grateful to share Blame My Ex with them.

What did they bring to The Beaches world?

Le: They both brought incredible producing and co-writing creativity to the project. Lowell brought a different approach to tracking vocals/lots of vocal coaching that helped finesse Jordan’s voice and bring out this different tone that we had never utilized. Gus brought badass Joy Division bass inspo and a love of Strokes-inspired guitar parts, which is my whole identity.

Is there a song you are most proud of on the record? Our current fave is Everything Is Boring!

Le: I’m really proud of ‘Edge of the Earth’ because it was very important for me that we include a queer love song on our album. It’s hard for me to listen to it now because it was written before we broke up, but now it seems to have taken on an even deeper meaning.

Is there something about the making of this album that no one yet knows… any exclusive anecdotes?

Le: We got really hyper in the studio one night and turned ‘If A Tree Falls’, our most beautiful and earnest track on the album, into a full edm bop. We let that live for a couple days and then thankfully scrapped that idea.

Who are you excited about in music right now?

Le: The Aces, GFlip, Fletcher - the queers are taking over, babyyy!!

Best place for fans and listeners to experience Blame My Ex for the first time in full?

Le: Stream it, grab it on vinyl or come to a show! We’ll be playing the whole album live on tour this Fall.

What’s next?

Le: There’s a lot of uncharted territory for The Beaches to explore. We’re excited to get over to Europe later this year and to keep trekking across the States in the new year. We’re already excited for the 2024 festival season!

Listen to Blame My Ex HERE.

@thebeachesband