Somewhere between Counting Crows and Dashboard Confessional are The Noisy Crows (formerly Joshua Arran & Etc.), the latest from Prince Edward Island’s explosion of pop/pop-punk banks. Their new single, “Speak Up” also appears in the midst of a series of bands that are calling for more open discussion and support for mental health.
“We’re all screaming on the inside” sings The Noisy Crows’ frontman Josh Arran. He is, of course, referring to that internal monologue of crippling self-doubt that likes to cradle us to sleep each night.
“We all know it, and we all know how harmful it can be,” says Josh. “The trouble is that it’s given even more power when we shove it farther into the depths of our minds. Everyone tells us to move on, smile wide and happiness will follow. Yet, when that voice is still there, it’s even more concerning. We find ourselves asking if there’s something wrong with us, and asking “why am I the only one that doesn’t feel alright?”
“The inspiration for the song really came from having these feelings at a young age and being too afraid to talk about it. Left feeling confused by why I was the one feeling sick to my stomach with worry throughout the day, while every other kid seemed to have an unwavering positivity about them. It was only years later that we gained the confidence to tell one another what we had been facing over the years.”
“To this day I am still surprised what happens when I open up to friends. More recently I have wrestled with jealousy—something I am only now learning about. Why isn’t this stuff talked about? Why did no one tell me what jealousy felt like? Why did no one tell me that it was ok to feel this way, as long as I saw it for what it was and did not let it affect my actions?”
Arran politely explains that each of the three members of The Noisy Crows have struggled in their own way, which is what led to the creation of the song, but it’s also a gesture of universal solidarity.
“Like everyone else , we seek comfort. When we recorded this song we took a more organic approach, to fit the nature of the song. We used lots of room mics and ambient effects to cradle the listener in a comfortable spot. We wanted this song to feel kind of like a hug. Yet we still wanted to portray that screaming voice inside us all , and the desperation it brings about.”
You can catch The Noisy Crows performing as special guests of KAYO May 26th, 2018 at Charlottetown’s Sportman’s Club.