Quarantine. Day 106. The world keeps turning and yet life, as we once knew it, has ended. Some are better suited for this brave new world than others. Those, like Juicebox, who have prepared for this outcome with years of mental and physical conditioning have a responsibility to assistant those who had previously been more socially inclined. Juicebox’s latest single, “Social Distance,” is a prime example of how any lifestyle might be successfully adapted for our new, hug-free, future.
Rolling with 2020’s theme of time-means-nothing-and-what-are-albums-anyway, “Social Distance” follows on the heels of the band’s 2019 debut album, Wasted Youth, which the band describe as the unfortunate result of growing up listening to Eminem and Blink-182.
“Social Distance” similarly embraces the absurd and the stark realities of year in quarantine; the new and unusual pastimes and unhealthy hobbies that manifest in lieu of proper coping mechanisms. But there’s still hope or at least plenty of alternatives.
“I wanted to illustrate how little the lockdown changed the daily routines of myself and other introverts. I thought it could be fun to have a song about how it was almost a relief not to socialize” says Zack Zwicker Juicebox’s vocalist and bassist.
Bandmates Benny O’Toole (guitar/vocals) Morgan Zwicker (drums) describe the experience of crafting the song together in isolation as “the musical equivalent of training in the Dragon Ball Z hyperbolic time chamber”.
“I’ve literally been drumming for 10 hours daily. I hope I go super-Saiyan soon,” exclaims an exhausted Morgan.
And ask practical as that skillset might be in these circumstances, the band recognizes that it comes at a cost that extends well beyond the usual carpel-tunnel syndrome.
“It’s sort of a combination of poking fun at the idea of introverts embracing social distancing and the sad reality of the depression that goes along with the truly isolated people who get stuck in that lifestyle,” says Zack, speaking of Alex Kelly (lead guitar), who “finally found the time to beat Pokémon silver” after a “long dark beginning” at the dawn of the pandemic.”
People, however, need to remember that quarantine should be approached like a marathon and, in the absence of anything else, it’s good to have goals. If you’re not marking the days on the calendar, you can at least be levelling up. And if you’re not levelling up, then you’ve got plenty of time to check out Juicebox’s other newly released single.