New Found Glory
New Found Glory is back on the scene with a new album Coming Home, and an international tour. Zeeks reporter Chris Turner finds out how the band feels about returning to their musical roots.
New Found Glory (formerly known as A New Found Glory), founded in 1997, slide into the pop-punk limelight, sharing the stage with genre-buddies blink-182, Dashboard Confessional, and many more. Since the band’s inception, the Florida natives have headlined the Warper Tour, its 2004 album Catalyst landed the group in third place on the Billboard’s Top 200, and the energetic performers have toured with many notables.
Zeeks steals a few moments of lead singer Jordan Pundik’s time while he takes a break from promoting NFG’s latest release in Cali.
Zeeks: Tell us a bit about the new album Coming Home.
Jordan Pundik: For starters, we wrote this record a little differently. Instead of writing the songs on tour in the van, we had a house in Malibu called the Morning View House.
Zeeks: How did that influence the sound of the album?
JP: It was awesome. It was just so different for us because it was so relaxing and laid back. Stress-free. We just lived there together for two months and wrote songs together. It was amazing. When I did my vocals I was singing in this living room where these huge windows overlooked the ocean. It was awesome to stand in the middle of the room and just sing in my underwear.
Zeeks: Tell me about the first single “It’s Not Your Fault”.
JP: Well, I always want people to listen to the song and come up with their own interpretation… But it is definitely, without a doubt, a love song. The whole record is.
Zeeks: What’s one of your favorite tracks on the album?
JP: For me “On My Mind” is definitely a stand-out track.
Zeeks: How do you feel about touring this time around?
JP: We’re bringing a bunch of really cool bands along with us. It’s been fun.
Zeeks: What’s on your iPod right now?
JP: Off the top of my head, I was just listening to this band called Need to Breathe. They are really good. A guy-next-door rock band.
Zeeks: With all the punk-pop bands out there, what makes New Found Glory different?
JP: When we first started, there where no other bands out there doing what we where doing. We were taking stuff from hardcore bands and putting that into our show. I think that made us stand out from the other groups. Now when I read interviews or when I talk to other bands they say, ‘I wouldn’t be in a band if it wasn’t for New Found Glory’. I think to myself, ‘That’s so crazy’.
Zeeks: If you weren’t in a band, what would you be doing?
JP: Well, I did go to school for designing video games.
Zeeks: What do you think was your big break?
JP: I was in school for less than a year and then we got offered to tour with that band Reel Big Fish. This was in ’98 or ’99. Everyone was still in school and working, so we all quit.
Zeeks: Using only one word, describe yourself and each of band mates.
JP: Me: dork
Chad Gilbert: go-getter
Steve Klein: sensitive
Ian Grushka: wacky
Cyrus Bolooki: quiet
Zeeks: Any words of advice for kids who also want to make it in the music biz? Who want to be the next New Found Glory?
JP: Just to do what feels right. From your soul and from your heart. That’s what we’ve always done. We haven’t let anybody change what we want to do or say.
