With their explosive new single ‘Jezebel’ leading the charge, Wearside punk rockers Tearjerker have just unveiled their powerful second album, ‘Ghosts’, via Little Rocket Records. Scott Hays caught up with the band to discuss fictional storytelling, emotional resilience and the thriving North East music scene.
Your recent single ‘Jezebel’ is a brilliant, lean, two-and-a-bit-minute charge that wastes absolutely no time. How did the track come together in the writing room? And what made you decide it was the right song to lead this new era for the band?
Thanks, Scott, that means a lot. The song was written by Brent, our drummer, with a fictional vision of the Salem witch trials in mind, alongside a graveyard rock vibe and a ‘Pet Sematary’ influence. Brent says: “It’s probably the first song I’ve written from a fictional point of view, rather than being anchored to the limitations of personal experiences. I think that’s what makes it resonate with people – it’s a storytelling song from start to finish, set against a backdrop of spooky nostalgia.
Building on the raw energy of singles like ‘Jezebel’, your second album, ‘Ghosts’, is out now. How do these new tracks push Tearjerker’s sound forward while staying true to that muscular, melodic punk rock grit?
This second offering is bigger, louder, more emotional and raw, but still delivers the same melodic sing-a-longs that have earned us our reputation.
There’s a clear lineage in your sound that echoes greats like Leatherface and Hot Water Music, while retaining a distinct Wearside identity, all backed by Little Rocket Records. How does the North East scene and your extended musical family shape what Tearjerker does?
The North East scene is thriving at the moment, and that’s great to see. Sunderland, in particular, has a special buzz around it now, thanks to the hard work and collaborative efforts of artists past and present. There’s a plethora of emerging artists in the city, which is exciting to see. Working with Little Rocket on both our debut and this record has been fantastic, and this is just the beginning of what’s to come.
Your debut album was a massive success. How does the new album differ from and build upon your debut?
The new album comes from a different place. It was written in the wake of a pretty heartbreaking series of events that warranted a different approach. The sound is still there, but this record comes from the heart in a different way.
‘Jezebel’ feels tailor-made for sweat-soaked venues, capturing a huge amount of live urgency in a tight runtime. As you gear up for the release of ‘Ghosts’, how do you approach translating that explosive live intensity into your studio recordings?
I think it’s important to replicate what you do in the studio on stage, and vice versa. We’re very excited to bring the new album to life and put it to the test in front of a live audience. ‘Ghosts’ is a labour of love and reflection, and we’re really looking forward to sharing it with everyone!
Tearjerker will play a special launch party at Independent in Sunderland on Saturday 28th November. Tickets, priced from £10.00 in advance, are available at independentsunderland.com.
