You may know them as Betrayal, but their new EP, Better Days marks the first chapter for this Los Angeles quartet under their new name, Runaway Kids, and admittedly, it’s something they’re very proud of. With the name change to match their new sound, Runaway Kids’ new EP is fast-paced skatepunk with some hardcore breakdowns thrown in the mix, and as guitarist Sean Chamilian expresses, it’s a very genuine and honest release.
Better Days dropped on June 23rd and can be purchased on iTunes HERE.
Interview by Shannon Shumaker
Congrats on the release of Better Days! Does it feel like a weight lifted off your shoulders finally having this EP out there for everyone to hear?
Thank you! And yes, a huge weight lifted! I felt like we had this awesome record that only we could listen to for so long and it was upsetting. Really happy that it’s out there for the world to hear now.
You’ve talked about how Better Days marks a new chapter for Runaway Kids, so what would you say that this EP means to you?
Better Days marks the FIRST chapter for Runaway Kids. This EP is the start of it all, so it means A LOT to us. Every single factor going into this record has been genuine and honest, so we’re very proud of it.
Better Days also marks the first release under the name Runaway Kids – Does it almost feel like a clean slate with the name change?
It definitely feels like a clean slate. Feels like we dropped any previous stigmas that we had as Betrayal and are starting over with music that we 100% believe in. Change is necessary sometimes, and it took me a while to realize that.
Was it a little nerve wracking releasing the first EP as Runaway Kids?
It was more exciting than anything. I think that we all believe in this release so much that it didn’t matter if we got any sort of negative feedback. We were just excited to show it to everyone, like a kid with a cool new toy or something.
You’ve spoken a bit about the name change from Betrayal to Runaway Kids, but does the new name have a specific significance to you?
I think the name has different meaning to each one of us. It sort of encompassed the vibe of the band entirely, more than any other name we came up with.
What do you hope that listeners will take away from the Better Days EP?
We hope they feel the way they did when they first put in their first offspring or sum 41 record. That was a cool feeling. We definitely hope it takes them back to that time when punk rock was thriving.
Was there anything that you wanted to accomplish with these songs that you couldn’t or didn’t with your previous releases?
Basically, we wanted to write real songs. Betrayal was a mosh band with heavy part after heavy part. We wanted to write music that we all love and enjoy. So we did it.
Now that the EP is out, what’s the rest of 2015 looking like for you guys? Any other big plans in the works?
A lot of touring plans that are in the works right now. Nothing I can mention yet but you can definitely expect us in a city near you.
With this first chapter under your belts, what’s next for Runaway Kids?
Touring like maniacs, starting to write the next record, annoying KROQ until they play our songs on their station. You know, just doing the damn thing.
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Shout out to Ted Stryker. Thanks for taking the time to read this interview…check out Better Days…out now!
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