To say Stage Four has been well received would be an understatement, with the album being somewhat unanimously dubbed the band’s best yet. The album, much like its predecessors, is built on the foundation of confessional lyrics detailing personal hardship.
It focuses on the concept of mortality, following the death of vocalist Jeremy Bolm’s mother in 2014. Bolm’s mother passed after a battle with cancer, with the album’s title hinting at this theme while also alluding to it being the band’s fourth album.
Touché Amoré are no strangers to conveying autobiographical lyrics centralised on personal struggles. Bolm’s reasoning behind this approach to songwriting is simple and to the point, “Why waste a listener’s time with songs that aren’t personal or important to the writer? That’s my question,” he says.
“No matter the subject, the writing is always the same. We get in a room and write all the music and I write the words after. We had more focus this time around. More time to get things exactly where we wanted them.
“If anyone listened at all we are thankful,” says Bolm of Stage Four. “A lot of our listener base has been following the band for a number of years which makes them older now. Once you’re in your late 20s or early 30s, there’s a high chance you’ve had some friends die and likely some grandparents. The songs become relatable if you’ve ever grieved [or] mourned. Death is certain.”
The track Skyscraper features a collaboration with Julien Baker, who too is known for her emotive songwriting and nonfictional lyrics.
“She’s been a friend for a while now and we think she’s incredible,” says Bolm. “I’m a big Leonard Cohen fan and many of his songs are often accompanied by a gorgeous female voice to highlight his limited range. I basically took a page from that book. She nailed it. The song is about spending time with my Mother in New York City before she died.”
Touché Amoré have spent the vast majority of this year on the road, touring across America, Europe and the UK. Of the tour so far, Bolm says the highlight has been witnessing the audience’s reception of the band’s live performances.
“Playing new songs to crowds and having anyone react to them will always be the most fulfilling thing,” he says. “We just played Mexico for the first time and that was an incredible experience,” says Bolm.
“We are gonna be playing Portugal for the first time and a club show in Spain which we’ve never done. I think those are some serious highlights coming up.”
Touché Amoré’s extensive touring schedule will also see the band hitting Australian shores in July. They are set to play six shows across Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.
“Australian tours are so short I feel like I’ve never fully absorbed the difference,” says Bolm of the Australian music scene. “Being from California, Australia just feels like home. Beautiful weather and beaches. Everyone we’ve ever met and toured with there have been wonderful people so if that’s a reflection of the music scene, I support it.”
Touché Amoré will be joined by pop-punk outfit Turnover for the Australian leg of their tour. “This is our first time touring with them,” says Bolm. “I recently met one of the members at our New York City show on the last US tour we did. We all enjoy their last album and when the opportunity arose we jumped at it.”
Throughout their ten year career, Touché Amoré have lost and gained members, progressed from a beach punk to post-hardcore sound and earned a massive following. Bolm says that time frame has seen “Everything from member changes to being road worn. You get tighter in every sense of the word when you tour nonstop. Personally and musically.”
