When Soundsphere last spoke with AWOLNATION, ‘Sail’ was the sleeper hit of 2011. The career of frontman and founder Aaron Bruno was changed forever, giving way to a smooth wind of success that has been maintained since. Catching up with Soundsphere in 2024, Bruno is preparing for another transformative period; one in which AWOLNATION is perhaps no more.
Credit: Xan Doane
With six LPs under their belt, including soon-to-be-released The Phantom Five (2024), AWOLNATION have assembled an impressive body of work. From breakout record Megalithic Symphony (2011) to the heartfelt highs of Angel Miners & the Lightning Riders (2022), Bruno has incorporated a variety of influences and genres to form a singular sound. In this time, the band have also toured globally alongside 21 Pilots and Prophets of Rage, and hope to get back on the road sometime in the near future.
With the success of ‘Sail’ came a false feeling of security for Bruno, aged 31 at the time. “I had a lot of growing up to do,” he admits, “because I probably wasn’t as mature as I could have been.” Behind this naivety was a restlessness from previous ventures. Before AWOLNATION, Bruno’s career spanned multiple projects, including Under the Influence of Giants, Home Town Hero, and Insurgence. All three dabbled in various, often contradicting genres and styles, but ultimately never succeeded.
“I had stumbled across so many failures up to that point. When it finally started to take off, I thought I was ready for it, but I didn’t know how much more maturing there was to do.”
When asked what maturation looks like, Bruno focuses on the importance of mindsets, and one’s relationship with knowledge. These days he subscribes to the Socratian belief that knowledge is to understand how little you know. He frames this perspective in relation to a brash, know-it-all attitude of his younger days, admitting:
“I feel I owe my parents an apology for some of the anguish I’ve put them through over the years. Maybe I’ll finally call and be like ‘I’m really sorry I went through that phase when I was 17.’”
Beyond hubris, insecurity came with success. “I think in the beginning when I first spoke with you, [Dom – main editor], it was such a sigh of relief that things finally worked.” With time, however, this sigh of relief would become a pause of doubt, which would later become a self-defeating admission. In other words, imposter syndrome. Curious as to whether this doubt remains, Bruno offers a humble response:
“I don’t think anyone necessarily deserves success. Songs come from outer-space and a lot of the time you don’t really know where an idea comes from. It just appears.”
Bruno would not describe himself as technically talented; rather, if he were to admit to having something that others don’t, it would be an “openness” to all music. Indeed, everything from sugary 80s pop to hardcore punk has shaped the electro-rock sound that AWOLNATION has mastered. Recent singles offer a perfect testament to this alchemy; ‘Jump Sit Stand March’ brings Amy Armstrong of Dead Sara into the action, providing a memorable verse that matches Bruno’s intense vocal display. Meanwhile, ‘I Am Happy’ delivers a knockout feature from legendary rapper, Del The Funky Homosapien. Techno, industrial and hip-hop combine to terrific effect, showcasing Bruno’s versatile craftsmanship.
“[I’ll collaborate] when I think the music’s good, not just for the sake of working with these people. The 18 year old in me is freaking out that Del the Funky Homosapien is on the record, no doubt. To get the approval of some of these people.. People who I grew up listening to.. It means more than any award or review.”
The topic of legacy and admiration is one which, Dom points out, also applies to AWOLNATION. For a generation of upcoming artists, Bruno’s voice and approval holds a similar weight. This brings us to the band’s current state, the journey so far, and where it ends. “I haven’t yet considered my legacy, but maybe subliminally I’m trying to control the end of the story. I have considered The Phantom Five to be the final [AWOLNATION] record.”
Although Bruno is hesitant to shut the door for good, this finale mindset has informed the album’s creation. The frontman is hard-pressed to think of artists that have released six or more great LPs consecutively. Radiohead and The Beatles receive a mention, but it’s difficult to speak with certainty beyond a few treasured names. In turn, Bruno has approached The Phantom Five with a back-against-the-wall mentality, inspired by the world of competitive sport.
“I have been creating a kind of invisible energy to push myself a lot more. Athletes I love – Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant – they would make up a story to give them motivation. I kind of did that with this record.”
Rather than creating a story of woe, Bruno has opted for something more hopeful, an antidote to modern events. “If you turn on the news you’d think the world is going to end every single day. Remember Y2K? Everyday feels like Y2K and everyone’s telling us the same thing.” In recent music, Bruno’s former cynicism has given way to newfound optimism, which, in turn, has imbued the songs with an infectious positivity.
Indeed, after decades of listening to punk rock and playing it, Bruno has come to a strange realisation. “Maybe it’s punk rock to be positive, in a way.” Reflecting on his past self, the frontman can’t believe he’s “saying some of this shit” but believes in music’s ability to show “people have more in common than not.”
Dom verifies this from experience; from club nights to headphone listening, AWOLNATION are a unifying band. The relationship people form with the music speaks to an emotive quality that surprises Bruno to this day. “‘Never Kill Your Heroes’ is always the song with lyrics tattooed, which has been fascinating. It’s like, ‘wow, I’m permanently on your skin!’”
Defining this relationship with fans, also, is Bruno’s heart-on-sleeve creative approach. This is especially true in recent times wherein AWOLNATION are without a record label. Embracing independence, Bruno has spearheaded The Phantom Five’s promotional cycle without compromise. ‘Panoramic View’ is a testament to this vision; free from label pressure, Bruno chose the “most sincere” song for the lead single, rather than the most “poppy.”
“There’s another ballad [‘Sail’] I know of that has done well for me. So I just went f*ck it, I’ll go with the song I like the most, a song about my family, and we’ve just cracked the top ten without label support.”
From Megalithic Symphony’s electro-rock fusion to Here Come the Runts’ (2018) organic instrumentation, the frontman has found himself, often unknowingly, pushing against “current trends.” With The Phantom Five, there’s a level of polish and accomplishment that goes hand-in-hand with the “invisible energy” that Bruno put on himself.
“If there’s a song I know is good out of the gate, it’s like being in the honeymoon phase of a relationship where you can’t do any wrong (…) If I have that honeymoon feeling, nine times out of ten it’ll make the record.”
The final album is shaping up to be one great honeymoon into the sunset. Bruno’s output will not slow down, however. Newly-announced project Barbarians of California sees Bruno and the rest of the band – Zach Irons (guitar), Eric Stenman (bass), and Isaac Carpenter (drums) – revisiting heavier, metal-adjacent sounds from their past. Between Barbarians and future projects, the frontman is around “three years down the line” on material, thanks to a productive lockdown period.
Speaking of which, it’s been almost half-a-decade since AWOLNATION last toured outside the US. Regardless, there remains hope that The Phantom Five will be promoted across the UK. “I don’t see why not,” Bruno says, “unless the world decides to shut down again. You never know!”Although said lightheartedly, Bruno acknowledges a chaotic and often uncertain future ahead. Beyond music, then, we’re curious what keeps him smooth sailing into unknown waters, and what piece of advice he’d offer listeners.
“If you can find a way to keep a glass half-full mentality, or find positivity, even in the most dire situation, it’s almost a superpower. That’s what I did when my career was in shambles. I found light at the end of the tunnel through that concept. It’s an exercise… Something you can just work on, slowly chip away at.”
“That’s the thing about life, right? It’s always going to throw you a curveball when you least expect it. My mom says ‘joy is an option.’ Some listeners would disagree with this, and I can totally see why. But it doesn’t hurt to try, right?”
Words: Kyle Boulton / Interview Dom Smith
Listen to the full chat below:
