New Found Glory

Thu 13th Oct, 2011 in Features

Pop-punk veterans New Found Glory strapped on their guitars and dropped new album Radiosurgery earlier this month. FasterLouder caught up with frontman Jordan Pundik to talk tunes, touring and egos.

Released by Epitaph and produced by Neal Avron (who produced a number of early New Found Glory albums including 2004’s Catalyst ), this new album is sure to satisfy fans if first single and title track Radiosurgery is anything to go by.

“The difference between this [album] and our previous albums is that we had a vision for this one. Usually we just put it all together as we go – but, this one we planned out. It’s more defined than what we usually do, but it definitely has the same punk rock sound,” says Pundik of the seventh studio album from the pop punk professionals.

Contrary to previous records, the band members are all living in different cities around the US at the moment, but Pundik says the distance wasn’t too difficult to deal with.
“Yeah, we all live apart now which is a little different, but we’re all fine with it! We did a lot of writing over Skype and laid down tracks then sent them to each other to lay down our individual parts over email. And we see each other for weeks on end when we tour!”
New Found Glory are renowned both by fans and fellow artists for being a bit of a party band – onstage, anyway.

When asked if adulthood is going to change that, Pundik laughs. “It’s true, we are all sort of becoming grown ups now and doing adult things. I’m married and have Van [his son] to keep me on my toes, and the other guys are starting to settle a bit too, but honestly, we are still all really immature! We started playing in this band when I was only 19, so it’s not like we are old. I don’t think we will ever be real adults.”

When asked if their fan base has changed after over a decade of EP and album releases, Pundik replies: “No, that is the awesome thing about New Found Glory. We have the same fans from a decade ago, but now they bring their 12 year old siblings.
That’s the great thing; we are still relevant, and we make sure when we are writing that we take that into account. We don’t want to stop anytime soon.”

New Found Glory’s line up has remained unchanged since just after the band’s beginnings in the late 90’s, and when asked if hanging out with the same guys for 15 years ever takes its toll, Pundik chuckles loudly. “Yeah, sometimes we just want to kill each other! But it always works out. Egos aren’t allowed in our band, and that’s something we have always stuck to. If someone gets an ego we tease and bully them until they get over it. That’s just how it works with us.” Pundik is completely natural and unaffected during the interview, and it seems like the band’s no ego policy is working.