Interview: New Rules
It’s tough to pin down what exactly makes New Rules such an outstanding, fresh-out-the-gate band. Some may argue it’s their endearing authenticity, proving their emotional depth through refreshingly honest lyrics. Others may say it’s the band’s impressive chemistry with one another, bringing a wildly contagious energy that takes over every venue they perform at. The truth is that Nathan Lambert, Alec McGarry, and Ryan Meaney, who make up the New Rules UK/Irish trio, are natural-born artists. Coming together to work as a band only a few short years ago, New Rules has been consistently working to show the world that they are a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
I was stoked to chat with the boys via Zoom before they headed home for the holidays last week. They shared some of the exciting ventures they have planned for the new year— and man, are we eager to see where 2022 takes this unstoppable band!
Photo by Jimmy Fontaine
Being so musically compatible, it seems that Nathan, Alec, and Ryan have known each other their whole lives. There is a simple effortlessness in the way they each navigate the stage, matching one another’s energy while also bringing something completely unique to the band’s live shows. Surprisingly, Nathan says the 3 guys first met over social media and quickly bonded over their shared affinity for great tunes and musical creativity
“We met 3 and a half years ago on Instagram! It was very ‘Gen-Z’ if you will. We made a little groupchat, got together one weekend, and ended up writing our first 2-3 releases right off the bat. It’s pretty crazy how it all worked out, we’re all so weirdly similar that it works!”
After releasing their first 2 singles “Call It” and “Fix Somebody” in early 2019, New Rules felt like they were ready to take their artistry to the next level. The boys continued writing and creating music, constantly working to prove that their band was one to look out for. By the end of that year, New Rules released a few more singles as well as their self-titled EP “New Rules”. The band’s exciting energy caught the attention of British megaband Little Mix, who selected New Rules to join them on their tour “LM 5: The Tour” at the end of 2019. The band says they view that time in their careers as a huge learning curve. Performing for thousands of fans every night on Little Mix’s tour really helped the guys grow as musicians and as professionals onstage.
It’s clear to see that New Rules is the kind of band who can put a positive spin on anything life throws at them. With the eagerness of 3 young men in their early 20’s, this band is always creating, always moving, and always pushing forward on their musical journey. This sense of purpose was a saving grace in the face of COVID-19’s reign of 2020. Though the New Rules boys may have been panicking at first, they utilized this time to continue connecting with fans across the globe in numerous ways.
“We worked on our writing a LOT during quarantine. We were all really focused on growing in that area, making demos, things like that. During 2020 we also jumped on TikTok and really enjoyed engaging with fans on there. We definitely made it work during that time period, but we never want to go that long without doing shows again. That was tough!”
Photo by Jimmy Fontaine
In the digital age, many musicians can be overwhelmed by the sudden responsibility to be music creators, social media experts, and marketing strategists all in one. With such an overload of content on apps like Instagram and TikTok, artists have to actively prioritize their fans and adapt to the latest ways in sharing their music with people around the world. Luckily for New Rules, their goofy, fun-loving personalities easily shine through the screen. The band’s TikTok videos have racked up millions of views, including viral videos of cover songs, live show performances, and their much-loved series of turning names/things into songs.
The New Rules fanbase continued to explode during 2020. With ridiculously catchy singles like “Pasta”, “Emily”, and “My Guitar”, the band showcased their effortless growth as singer/songwriters despite the difficulties COVID-19 brought artists that year.
Of course, 2021 only elevated this band’s talent. Without missing a beat, the guys kicked off the year with their jumping, guitar-heavy track “Really Wanna Dance With You”. It only takes one listen to understand why New Rules is a band you must see live. Nathan, Alec, and Ryan’s vocals blend together to create absolute magic, and fans simply can’t get enough.
On December 3rd, New Rules released their latest single “Cheers”, a true heartbreak anthem to close out a crazy year for the band and their die-hard fans. The song is a big ole’ middle finger to the stress, the heartache, and the anxiety of the last 2 years. Sewn together with campfire guitars, catchy harmonies, and a witty chorus, “Cheers” is the song that will fill the gap on your daily playlist and leaves us wondering how we ever went so long without it.
As if that wasn’t cool enough, the band also released a music video this week for “Cheers”. Featuring an array of incredible clips from touring and live shows, the latest New Rules music video gives us a behind-the-scenes look at all the madness these boys bring to cities around the world. Check it out below!
Never ones to slow down, the band says they are very excited for the new music they have coming in the new year….
“Now that we’ve started, we just don’t want to stop! We can’t wait to keep touring and seeing fans in person. These songs are so fun to perform live, that piece of it is really important to us!”
Though it can be easy to get swept away by the undeniable charm of this infectious UK/Irish trio, what really makes New Rules a stand-out band is their phenomenal talent as singer/songwriters. It is extremely evident that band members Nathan, Alec, and Ryan are the kind of performers who give their all to every song, creating an contagious excitement that is hard to shake. In only a few short months, New Rules has cemented their place as an anthemic pop band that will quickly takeover the world with their talent and grit.
If you haven’t already added this band to your queue, get ready to fall down the inescapable New Rules rabbithole. You can stream the band’s new single “Cheers” on Spotify and Apple Music. Be sure to follow the band on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook for all their latest releases and tour updates.
Interview by Kelly Carrazzone
