by alex grainger
photo by zach burns + britta joseph
The Unlikely Candidates dropped their first full length album Panther Island on May 20th. Panther Island is the newest installation of the band’s unique alt-rock sound. The album, named after the band’s hometown in Fort Worth, Texas, reflects how the album came to life during the height of the pandemic, all at home. The electric album covers a wide range of themes, from feeling trapped to songs of loss. Read more of our conversation with lead singer Kyle Morris below!
Can you tell us what your album Panther Island is about? Is there a story you are telling through the album?
Kyle: “There are several themes, but not really any overarching story. Some of it was about the pandemic. ‘In My Room’ is about feeling bored and trapped, ‘Sunshine’ is about political, social, and personal unrest. There are songs about loss like ‘Grenadine,’ ‘Bad Imagination,’ and ‘Cry Baby.’ Also songs about being a slacker like ‘Novocaine’ and ‘Carousel.’
What’s the meaning behind the album title, Panther Island?
Kyle: “Our hometown of Fort Worth, TX is nicknamed Panther City. Apparently it comes from someone saying the city is so relaxed and uneventful, that a panther could walk down the street and no one would care or notice. The island part came from me feeling like everyone was on their own island at home during the pandemic.”
What was the creative process behind the album?
Kyle: “We were at home during the pandemic, so there were a lot of Zoom sessions with our producer. I had to set up a vocal booth in my closet and he would FaceTime me to direct the vocal takes. We would send tracks back and forth over email a lot, as well. We would also write together once a week.”
Due to the pandemic you had to stop your 2020 tour, but then went on to write and record over 10 songs for the album. Did you learn any valuable lessons as artists? How do you feel the pandemic impacted this album?
Kyle: “One thing we learned was how to take a bad situation and make the most of it. We were able to write the album we wanted with all the extra time we gained by not touring. We did a weekly streaming show that brought us closer to our fans and created a sense of community we didn’t have before.
The album definitely has a thread of isolation, specifically stemming from the pandemic. Also a lot of songs are set in my apartment, so the settings and emotions were definitely impacted by that.”
Why did you choose to release “Sunshine” as the main single from your album Panther Island?
Kyle: “‘Gemini’ was really supposed to be the main one, but ‘Sunshine’ was a good intro to the vibe of the album. It’s different but also has some styles we have used in the past. It’s very lyrical and also melodic. It’s just a good mix of our past, present, and future.”
How does Panther Island compare to your previous releases?
Kyle: “It’s a good mix of a lot of the stuff we have done over the years, just more developed. It’s also the most eclectic batch of songs we have done style wise. The songs really toe the line between great lyrics and melodies, which is great because that has always been our goal.”
Do you have a message you are sending to listeners of Panther Island?
Kyle: “Each song has a different message, really. There are songs about accepting yourself, especially your flaws. There is a lot of introspection, many of those are about processing what’s going or has gone wrong in relationships. There are songs about depression and dealing with that. Several messages in there.”
Is there a song off Panther Island you are most proud of? One that was the most challenging to create? One that was the most fun to create?
Kyle: “I really liked ‘Gemini.’ It was a big step for us sound-wise as far as trying something new. I also got to show off my falsetto a bit which was cool. The most challenging one was ‘Cry Baby.’ It wasn’t easy to blend the styles of SoundCloud rap and 90’s rock. It took a minute but it turned out great. The most fun was ‘Sunshine.’ It came together super fast and the lyrics were really fun to put together. I got to touch on some heavy subject matter using surrealism, which yielded some interesting lyrics.”
The band formed in 2008 and you’ve had an underdog story, one where through all adversity you’ve stayed together and crafted your music and sound to something that is consistently and uniquely yours. How have you guys found the motivation to stay true to who you are?
Kyle: “Taking it one step at a time, really. I decided not to get my hopes up and just do the work, as sad as that sort of sounds. I always used to look at that carrot dangling in front of us, but it got pulled away so many times that I just decided to do things at our own pace. We try to write great songs, play great shows, be good to the fans and people we work with, and work hard at the ancillary stuff. At the end of the day, it’s up to preparation and luck.”
photo by zach burns
Alt-rock/pop-punk has made its way back into mainstream music. What do you have to say about the success the band has experienced as a result of its revival?
Kyle: “I think it’s great that guitars are back in the mainstream and it bodes well for our genre. It’s hard to say how much it has affected our band, but more fans of rock in general will definitely help in the long run.”
You guys have toured with bands such as Fall Out Boy, Cage the Elephant, and Young the Giant to name a few. What’s your favorite memory from tour? What’s the craziest thing that has happened on tour?
Kyle: “Opening for Fall Out Boy was pretty surreal. My younger self would have been in disbelief playing those sold out shows and talking to Pete Wentz about mashed potatoes at catering. As far as crazy stuff, that’s a tough one. I jumped into the crowd with a wired mic in Detroit. I was trying to get down, but with the crowd carrying me I sort of got into a spinning motion as I pushed my body towards the floor. Before I knew it, I was twenty yards away from the stage and wrapped like a mummy in the cord.”
What was your reaction to the finished album?
Kyle: “I am really proud of it. I feel like every song is really strong and lives in its own world while also being cohesive within the album. We got to write some catchy songs while also indulging our creativity. People seem to like it as well, so I can’t ask for any more than that.”