Out Now: Straight On View – Gotta Step Up (Demo ’24) SM056
Straight On View’s journey began with a shared passion for hardcore punk. Guitarist Jim reminisces, “Sometimes I get into certain moods with music and always go back to stuff I’ve loved over the years. I was listening to a lot of NYHC and youth crew at the time and then Chris and I started talking about it one day and he was showing me stuff I
hadn’t heard yet and then I just got in songwriting mode”. Band’s formation was a natural process. With each of the members sharing their unique energy and influences. “Chris and I were playing guitar with each other one day and listening to music and I mentioned I had a few hardcore songs I wrote. He had some riffs and it just kind of happened organically.” – recalls Jim. “Then we asked Matt to play bass shortly after and Colin suggested Eliot as a singer. I heard him and thought it’d be perfect and it just fell into place”.
Driven by a desire to spread positivity and constructive ideals, Straight On View aims to leave a lasting impression on the punk landscape. messages of unity and understanding through their music. “The most important things I took from youth crew were having a positive outlook and being constructive with your thoughts and actions.” reflects Eliot. “If we want to change things, we have to bring people together and break down the divisions between us.”
Collaboration and camaraderie defined the writing and recording process of “Gotta Step Up”. Jim highlights, “The coolest thing was just having everyone bring stuff to the table. It all came together nicely without much challenge and sounds super cohesive”.
Straight On View’s decision to release their debut EP through Strange Mono Records, a benefit label, underscores their commitment to community support and radical positivity. Dan Timlin, co-founder of Strange Mono, expresses his excitement, stating, “We share the same values, radical positivity, and practicing community support. Straight On View is relentless and tight, filled with frenetic energy, and they are one of the few bands that play this kind of music that aren’t afraid to rip a solo or two!”
All proceeds are being donated to Philly PAWS