Finding a niche is a common struggle for the vast majority of us – where do we fit in? With Smooth Brain, a new pop-punk band from the tri-state area, it’s even more complicated, meshing five different people from different states, with different interests and jobs, into one unique voice and vision. But over time, the dream became clear: ironically, it was to help each other continue that journey of finding ourselves. For Smooth Brain, from meeting each other for the first time over video calls during the pandemic to booking and ripping gigs throughout the northeast, it all culminated in Broken Record, the band’s self-produced debut album, to be self-released August 5th.

Comprised of vocalist (and audio engineer) Izzy Gunn, guitarist (and humanitarian policy adviser) Ben Schaare, guitarist (and baseball content product manager) Hera Andre-Bergmann, drummer (and record label marketer) Jordan Mel, and bassist (and live sound tech) Maryn Czajkowski, Smooth Brain hails from three different states along the east coast of the United States, meeting partially through the NYC/NJ local music scene and, critically, through TikTok as well.

But the passion was always there, no matter where the members were located. It was clear that these five people needed to write an album about love and heartbreak; confusion and nostalgia; queer joy and pure rage. It’s all about emotion – after all, why else would they call it emo? – and all this band wants to do is help people feel something with them, all together as one community. “We wanted to write a pop-punk album, but it ended up having so many influences that it’s a new genre of music,” Izzy says, with Maryn adding, “We all welcomed each other and each other’s musical input with such open arms that let us all have such incredible freedom of expression … We’re just trying to smile with each other!”

“Oh No, I Hope I Don’t Fall” is the album’s lead single, released June 17. It’s a petty breakup jam with a poignant fallen angel metaphor, a strong hook, and an ability to make every listener dance (voluntarily or not). The second single, “Ye Olde Pop Punk Tune,” dropping July 8, is a fun and intentionally clichéd pop-punk song, complete with hometown hatred and an easycore breakdown. And the album’s release day focus track, “Leaning In,” is a fast-paced love song taken to the next level by an even faster double-time punk second verse and a lofi-hip-hop-style bridge … naturally.

Broken Record is available August 5.

FFO: State Champs, Neck Deep, Paramore, Olivia Rodrigo, Stand Atlantic, My Chemical Romance, Meet Me @ The Altar, Avril Lavigne, Fall Out Boy, 5 Seconds of Summer