Local favorites Future Teens released a new EP, Deliberately Alive, today. On it is “Play Cool,” a track written by the band’s guitarist and vocalist, Daniel Radin. The song is a look back at Radin’s early days of touring, and how his experiences informed the performer and songwriter he is today.
Radin recalls that while he was on tour, he would engage in some unhealthy habits that took him away from the music.
“I would literally see how much beer I could drink while on stage during our opening 30 minute set, eventually realizing that not only was this not healthy, but it wasn’t why I wanted to play music in the first place,” he tells me.
“Play Cool” was inspired by Future Teens’ time touring with Oso Oso and The Sidekicks, two bands that Radin looks up to for their writing and performances.
“I would watch them play every night thinking, ‘What makes these bands so damn good?’” he says.
“Play Cool” is a perfect ode to the highs and lows of gigging and the ups and downs of the New England music scene. It’s a moment of self-reflection against a feel-good tune that stays true to the band's “bummer pop” sound.
The rest of the EP is just as committed to this confessional vulnerability, too. Despite the bittersweet lyrics, I can’t wait to dance to Future Teens at shows to come.
