Fusing pop energy with punk attitudes, Chris Comstock and Jake Torrey of Underbrook chat with Atwood Magazine about subcultures, authenticity, and their debut EP, ‘Was Happiness Too Boring For You?’
Stream: ‘Was Happiness Too Boring for You?’ – Underbrook
Some of the finest creations are not the results of careful planning and refinement, but rather driven by instinct and initiative. This has certainly been true for Underbrook, the band making waves in today’s pop-punk landscape.
It’s a bright morning in Southern California. Chris Comstock is on the line from the airport while Jake Torrey sips his coffee to start the day. Just over a week after Underbrook's intimate debut show at Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, a performance I had the privilege of attending and a pivotal moment in their journey, we engage in light conversation. Comstock shares a humorous anecdote about the poor-quality mini-golf course at the airport before we delve into Underbrook’s initial successes and their current creative collaboration.
Comstock takes a moment to reflect on the band’s debut show. “Honestly, I think I underestimated how thrilling the entire experience would be,” he confesses. “We may have all, for lack of a better term, underestimated its reality… Seeing such a strong reaction to everything we’ve worked on for so long was incredible.”
Underbrook is no newcomer to the pop-punk arena, nor are they unfamiliar with the music industry. Comprising six experienced musicians—acclaimed songwriters, instrumentalists, and producers—each with notable projects and collaborations to their names, the band operates with purpose and urgency without any pretense. This was apparent in the final version of ‘Was Happiness Too Boring For You?’, their vibrant, succinct, yet powerfully arranged debut EP.
“We took eight days to craft this EP, using seven of the songs from that time,” Comstock explains regarding their tight timelines and artistic results. “Not to boast, but there wasn’t a ton of conflict or struggles… Once we found our rhythm as a band, which was the primary challenge, we learned how to navigate any issues.”
Creating and completing a full debut project in just over a week is impressive, even for seasoned artists. However, despite his recognition as a talented songwriter, Torrey finds himself returning to a DIY ethos and accepting imperfections. “I’ve always thought it was cool to hear a band’s first EP and recognize how DIY it sounds. Then, as you explore their discography, you notice the sonic evolution; it gets more refined over time… We discussed the desire not to sound overly polished, so we weren't overly meticulous about what to fix.”
Engaging in creative work for a living can sometimes lead to a sense of jadedness, but that’s not the case for Underbrook. “You know how you always have room for dessert? That’s what Underbrook feels like!” Comstock compares, contrasting this project with previous musical endeavors. “We can write a range of pop or country songs, but there’s always space for something sweet when it comes to Underbrook.”
As Comstock and Torrey explore Underbrook’s creative process, teamwork, and preliminary plans during a late morning chat with Atwood Magazine, they emphasize the importance of authenticity and enjoyment, capturing the essence of pop punk.
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:: stream/purchase ‘Was Happiness Too Boring for You?’ here ::
:: connect with Underbrook here ::
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A CONVERSATION WITH UNDERBROOK
ATWOOD MAGAZINE: I ATTENDED YOUR WHISKY A GO GO PERFORMANCE RECENTLY, AND THE ENERGY WAS INCREDIBLE! YOU ARE CRAFTING SOMETHING UNIQUE.
Chris Comstock: Thank you so much!
HOW DID IT FEEL TO BE ON STAGE AND EXPERIENCE THE LIVE REACTIONS TO THE EP FOR THE FIRST TIME?
Chris Comstock: Jake and I discussed this post-show. To be frank, I think I underestimated how thrilling it would be. We might have all underestimated how genuine the moment felt.
Jake Torrey: We tried to manage our expectations, but when we saw everyone singing along and moshing, we were like, “Oh, this is a real thing! This is amazing.”
Chris Comstock: The turnout was fantastic! We were just enjoying it, you know? Witnessing such a strong response to our work was mind-blowing.
CHRIS, WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN DELVING INTO ALTERNATIVE, POP PUNK MUSIC?
Chris Comstock: That’s where I began my musical journey. It’s the genre that resonates with me. I always wanted to form a band of some kind. My vocal style leans toward pop punk, so it felt natural to pursue that path. Interestingly, the first step was our song “Heads Up.” Once we finished it in a single day, we all felt it was something worth pursuing,
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Combining pop energy with a punk spirit, Chris Comstock and Jake Torrey of Underbrook speak with Atwood Magazine about subculture, authenticity, and their first EP, ‘Was Happiness Too Boring For You?’