Ben Quad has announced that their new album Wisher will be released on November 14th via Pure Noise Records. The news comes alongside the release of the first single from the record, “It’s Just A Title,” and its accompanying music video. Wisher is available for pre-order/pre-save here.
In contrast to their doubt-ridden 2022 debut I’m Scared That’s All There Is, Wisher captures a more hopeful outlook on life and a desire for a better future. Ben Quad showcase their growth as artists and offer an optimistic perspective that rivals feelings of self-doubt and negativity with this new record. The Oklahoma City natives also collaborated with producer Jon Markson (The Story So Far, Drug Church) at his farm/studio in New Jersey to bring Wisher to life. This marked the band’s first real studio experience, which gave them enough time and space to work on themselves and their sound’s evolution.
It wouldn’t be a Ben Quad album without some fun, silly song titles. “Classic Case of Guy on the Ground,” “I Hate Cursive and I Hate All of You,” and “Very Big in Sheboygan” are a few of the chuckle-worthy names featured on the 10 song tracklist. The album also sees Ben Quad team up with some of the biggest names in the scene, including Nathan Hardy of Mircowave, Zayna Youssef of Sweet Pill and Sam Canty of Treaty Oak Revival.
“It’s Just A Title” introduces this new era with a shift toward a more pop-punk centric sound while still encompassing their signature twinkly guitars and heavy-hitting lyricism. The track also offers a lighter tone that strays away from Ben Quad’s screamo-forward 2024 EP Ephemera. Speaking on the new single, guitarist Edgar Viveros shares,
“‘It’s Just A Title’ is about living with constant existential insecurity and questioning whether life now is any better than before. Musically, we drew inspiration from bands like All-American Rejects and Motion City Soundtrack, leaning into pop elements like heavy synths and a guitar solo. It was the first time we broke away from strict Midwest emo and punk structures, and it came together faster than anything we’ve written. For the video, we just wanted to have fun; silk robes, over-the-top vibes, and a tongue-in-cheek take on ‘suffering from success.”
Ben Quad will be hitting the road in support of Koyo on their North American tour this fall. They will also be heading to the UK/EU in support of Arm’s Length early next year. Tickets and information for all of Ben Quad’s upcoming shows can be found here.
‘Wisher’ Tracklist
1. What Fer?
2. Painless
3. You Wanted Us, You Got Us feat. Zayna Youssef
4. Did You Decide to Skip Arts and Crafts? feat. Sam Canty
5. It’s Just A Title
6. Very Big in Sheboygan
7. All Your Luck
8. Classic Case of Guy on the Ground
9. West of West feat. Nathan Hardy
10. I Hate Cursive and I Hate All of You
Keep up with Ben Quad: Instagram // X // Website // Facebook // TikTok
