Following the success of their 2024 sophomore effort, Hammer Of My Own, New York indie rockers Closebye have returned with a fresh burst of creative energy. Today, the band unveiled two new tracks, “No Troubles Left At All” and “Ann Arbor,” marking their first official release since their last full-length project. These songs represent a significant milestone for the group, as they mark the first time the band has taken full control of the production process.
Jonah Smith, a member of the quartet, shared that the songs emerged from a spontaneous creative period. “‘No Troubles Left At All’ came about at a funny time when the four of us in Closebye had just finished our next album after spending more than a year making it, and it was naturally time for a break from the studio,” Smith explained. He described a late-night session where a sudden wave of inspiration led him to record the demo for the track in a single, continuous take.
Instead, one evening I got hit with this random burst of optimism and inspiration and stayed up until 7 a.m. writing and recording the demo for “No Troubles Left At All” in one go. The song felt so immediate and exciting that we set ourselves a deadline to finish and release it as quickly as we could. “Ann Arbor” came out of that same creative burst, so recording and releasing them as an A/B single felt natural. These are the first songs we’ve ever self-produced as a band, and that made the whole process super exciting. Everybody had an equal voice in shaping the arrangements and production. Tyler Postiglione at Thump Recording helped us push the ideas even further and get them across the finish line.
Lyrically, “No Troubles Left At All” is about my first year of sobriety and the feeling that I’ve finally made it through the hardest part. It’s about hitting a stride within my relationship and within myself, acknowledging everything my partner and I went through to get here, while also celebrating that life has finally started to click in a way that feels new to both of us.
The thematic weight of “No Troubles Left At All” is deeply personal, reflecting Smith’s journey through his first year of sobriety and the stability he has found in his personal life. The band’s collaborative spirit shines through in the production, with assistance from Tyler Postiglione at Thump Recording to refine their vision.
The release is accompanied by a music video for the lead track, directed by bassist Margaux Bouchegnies, who is also known for her solo work under the name Margaux. You can watch the official video for “No Troubles Left At All” and listen to “Ann Arbor” below.
