What if your diary was turned into a post punk album? For me, the idea is scarier than anything Stephen King has written, but thankfully, other artists are more comfortable being vulnerable than I am—the kind of guy who writes about what other people do instead of what he does.
Anyway, that descriptor sells Letter to Self by Sprints short, as it is absolutely filled with the kind of “holy cow” moments of raw honesty that you normally only get from friends in the late-night hours. Thankfully, vocalist/guitarist Karla Chubb knows how to compose her thoughts quite better than most, as Sprints’ debut is, above all other things, fun. It’s vibrant, heartfelt, and the kind of thing that anyone who has ever felt alone or different from others will connect with in some (or many) ways. It’s a love letter to the queer coming of age, and it’s also put to music that is equally brimming with vitality. Think garage punk mixed with the kind of hooks and basslines that beg for arenas.
So what was it like pouring a heart out on tape for Chubb?
“The record is very autobiographical and vulnerable in parts. It’s a scary thing to do but has the potential to really connect with people on an emotional level which is really beautiful. When you see fans, particularly young queer fans, singing the lyrics back to you, you see what it means to people. Thematically, much of the album deals with identity, sexuality, trauma and self-acceptance. It can often be dark but there’s a sense of hope threaded through it all. Writing the songs is putting them on a page, acknowledging these difficult moments but refusing to be bound by them and being able to move on with your life. That message of hope and self-acceptance is what we wanted to leave people with and feels like an apt end to the album.”
Letter to Self is out now and you can order it from the band here. Follow Sprints on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for future updates.
Photo courtesy of Sprints
