New Politics gear up for the big time
The last time USC saw the spunky, animated rock outfit New Politics was a brief six months ago at USC Springfest. David Boyd, the band’s frontman, was bouncing around the stage, climbing the scaffolding and thrusting his pointed finger at receptive members of the audience. He even discarded his mic to perform an elaborate breakdance routine only to be greeted with a roar of approval from a crowd that was largely unfamiliar with his work.
Déjà vu · New Politics played at USC just six months ago at Springfest. Since then, they’ve become better known because of their single “Harlem.” – Razan Al Marzouqi | Daily Trojan
“Dancing is something I do every show, and I can’t help it,” Boyd said. “It goes hand-in-hand with music; It’s emotion. It’s expression. And it’s something I’ve been doing since I can remember.”
Fast forward half a year. Boyd and New Politics have seen a surge in popularity owing to their catchy, thumping punk-rock anthem “Harlem,” a track that reflects their adjustment to America since departing Denmark. Boyd said he never could have anticipated that one single would catapult the band into new territory that includes an expanding audience, more opportunities to play larger venues and their second tour as headliners.
“Of course it takes so much more than that, but I never realized what a single song could do. I’m really blown away by it,” Boyd said. “It’s important to have a single, but I think that song has a lot of power, which is really important because it opens up a lot of gems we have as a band.”
New Politics has been tapped to open by a number of impressive, established artists — everyone from 30 Seconds to Mars and Fall Out Boy to Paramore and P!nk. For Boyd, who revels in the live performance as much as the recorded product, the touring experiences have been instrumental.
“They’ve inspired me to learn to grow and make the best of what you’re given,” Boyd said. “One of the things I’ve realized is that a lot of it has to do with my perseverance and finding an outcome, a way to better yourself or change in a constructive way.”
Boyd thinks they’ve done just that with their upcoming third album, Vikings, which he calls their best yet. New Politics’ members have developed as songwriters and the band’s rising status has fueled a number of upbeat, positive tracks that reflect its excitement for what’s to come.
“There are a few sad things about being single and maybe not finding love, but there’s also a lot of fun aspects about falling in love with America and everything we’ve gone through,” Boyd said. “It’s a very cloud-nine record. We’re definitely on cloud-nine.”
Their new record also promises to maintain the genre fluidity and versatility that New Politics has embodied over the years. The band, though undoubtedly influenced by rock and punk, can lean pop at times and incorporate elements of hip-hop at others. Boyd said the band doesn’t abide by genres or try to classify itself — it relies on what feels genuine.
“Our sound, I think, comes from different feelings. It’s like a vibe,” Boyd said. “It’s an electric feeling or vibe that sparks, and I don’t think that that can get approached like a genre. It starts to take root and build its own life.”
This variability is part of what led them to open for such a diverse set of artists, but the band’s personality and presence also plays a large role. After “Harlem” exploded, the band discovered its strength in live, enthusiastic performances and has continued to hone its natural charisma.
Unlike bands like 30 Seconds to Mars, New Politics doesn’t have full access to all of the technology and props of huge spectacles. Instead, they rely on their energy and embrace simplicity.
“We’re not flying from things. We don’t have special lights or anything that. Our show is very raw,” Boyd said. “There are no gimmicks. It’s just raw energy. Anything that seems like a gimmick isn’t.”
At Springfest, this included serenading the students gathered in McCarthy Quad with a Justin Timberlake track. The band would mess around singing covers in rehearsal and translated the result to the stage. It was an instant success, met with recognition and encouragement from fans.
Though they don’t have fireworks and confetti blasters yet, Boyd said that the band has put a lot of energy into their light show and production. This tour marks their second trip headlining, and though they’re still adjusting to the learning curve, the response they’ve received has been electric.
New Politics expects to translate their passion to their two performances this weekend at the House of Blues on Halloween in Anaheim and the next day at the Fonda Theatre. Boyd wouldn’t divulge much about his plans for the Halloween performance, but he did said the band members would definitely dress up — and he encouraged everyone else in attendance to do the same.
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