Keep Calm Presents: An Interview with Citizen

It's always interesting to see which albums stand the test of time. Sometimes, albums we love at first don't sound as great after a while. Sometimes the opposite occurs, and an album we overlooked grows into an album we hold near and dear. On Keep Calm, that seems to have become the case with Citizen's Youth. The band's emotional, grunge-empowered rock hits hard and hits often, making them a definite band to watch moving forward. Playing an off-day show at The College of New Jersey, the band's drummer Jake Duhaime and guitarist Nick Hamm were kind enough to sit down with Madison Ouellette to talk about their tour with The Wonder Years, touring in Europe, and more. Read on below to see what the guys had to say!

Song of the Week, 11/4: Citizen- "Cicuta"

What is it?: Cicuta is Citizen's contribution to Will Yip's Off the Board: A Studio 4 Family Compilation, released in the beginning of October.  The money raised from the comp goes directly to Will Yip's efforts to buy Studio 4.  For the Philly scene and beyond, he is the one of the go-to producers for all things emo, hardcore, and punk.  Off The Board features exclusive songs from Title Fight, Circa Survive, Balance and Composure, Polar Bear Club, as well as others, all produced and engineered by Yip at Studio 4.


Why is it Song of the Week?: After releasing Young States in 2011, Citizen earned a title as a band to watch.  However, it was their June release Youth that proved that they are no longer young kids trying to make a name for themselves but rather a force to be reckoned with. Cicuta further illustrates this, as the song's booming chorus and heavy lyrics continue to resonate with the listener even after completion.  Although having a sound that's pretty cohesive with Youth, this song stands strongly within Off the Board.  Citizen fans should be content with this addition to the band's repertoire as it is a indication that Youth is only the beginning of outstanding releases to come.


You can hear Cicuta by Citizen off Will Yip's Off the Board: A Studio 4 Family Compilation below. You can find out more information about the comp as well as purchase it at http://offtheboardcomp.com/