Local band Speed Limit 18 releases second album
When asked about the sound of Speed Limit 18’s sophomore album “Welcome Home,” guitarist Zach Yenovkian had a simple answer.
“It’s fire,” he smiled.
Friends since Rehoboth Elementary, bandmates Oliver Sachs, Alex Boswell and Zach are now rising juniors at Sussex Academy. And just as the trio has aged, so has their music matured since the 2019 debut album “Stoopid,” which featured quirky songs “Herb the Turtle,” “Shared Custody Duck,” and “Cat Goes Splat.”
“‘Stoopid’ was just writing silly songs with friends,” said Oliver, band producer who also plays drums, guitar, piano and ukulele; all members sing.
“Returning listeners will be in for a big surprise,” said bassist/drummer Alex. “‘Welcome Home’ is a cohesive, indie pop record.”
Oliver said he began writing new songs immediately after the release of “Stoopid.”
“It’s been pretty much my life the last two years,” he said.
When the band couldn’t workshop songs together because of pandemic precautions, Oliver would send demos to Zach and Alex for feedback. Since they became vaccinated, it’s easier to jam in person, bandmates said. Classmate and fellow musician Dylan Thomas helps with writing and production.
Motivated by the desire to outgrow the band’s younger themes, Oliver said he exerted about 300 times more effort in writing. As he wrote each new song, he was sure he’d developed the next album’s new single – until he found every new one he created was even better than the last.
“By the time I finished writing, the first three songs I thought would be on the album didn’t even make the cut,” he said.
This album is more of a narrative, bandmates said, that follows a young man on a mission to find himself by living alone in a cabin in the woods. While there, he realizes how much he values family and friends, and leaves the cabin for home, where he knows he belongs.
Bandmates say they hope people listen to all of the album songs, as the last one offers a satisfying conclusion. The band looks forward to playing before a live audience again.
“We would love to return to the Milton Theatre and play the show we’ve always wanted to play,” Oliver said.
First single “Massachusetts” dropped Aug. 13, and the album launched Aug. 17 on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music and all major streaming platforms. Go to speedlimit18.com.
