Q&A: ‘Try Again’ Marks The Walters' Long-Awaited Return
THE WALTERS ARE BACK — with a new EP, a new label, and a new understanding of what it means to be in a band. The group went on hiatus about four years ago, with members citing burnout, overwhelming success at a young age, and no acknowledgement from the music industry as their reasons.
“It kind of felt like there was this whole music industry that just didn't care about us,” rhythm guitarist and vocalist MJ Tirabassi says. “That took its toll on us.”
With plans to reunite but no timeline and little reason to mend their personal relationships, the future of The Walters remained indefinite. But viral success on TikTok accelerated the reconciliation and captured the attention of many record labels. After sustaining the band as independent artists, it was a full-circle moment to be recognized by the industry and, coincidentally, for the first song they ever created as a band seven years ago. The Walters have now signed with Warner Records, and “I Love You So” is now platinum certified.
“Now [the music industry] is coming back and saying, ‘No, no, we see it now. Do you want to be on our label?’” Tirabassi describes. “It was validating.”
Try Again, the band’s newly-released EP, is a continuation of The Walters’ dreamy indie pop sound that's as romantic as it is yearning. Songs like “Eyes For You” and “Make You Mine” are exactly as they seem, with heartfelt lyrics over beachy instrumentals that pick up where the band left off.
“It's not a reinvention,” Tirabassi explains. “We're still trying to make the same vibe and type of music. It's like a new introduction.”
We caught up with Tirabassi before The Walters headed on tour. Read below to hear about the band’s reunion and their return to the stage.
LUNA: What was it like making art with some of the band members, but not as The Walters?
TIRABASSI: It felt like we were just missing a piece to the puzzle, to be honest.
LUNA: Back then, what strains did you feel that made it hard to be in the band?
TIRABASSI: We knew that we had a lot of potential. We had really dedicated fans on the internet, and people telling us, “You're our favorite band.” And it kind of felt like there was this whole music industry that just didn't care about us at all. It felt like we were never going to have a chance to be a legitimate band. That took its toll on us.
LUNA: What was it like to watch “I Love You So” do this well, but from the sidelines? You couldn't respond to it immediately.
TIRABASSI: It was confusing, because … it was pushing us to make up with each other. We have to heal our personal relationships. There was all this excitement around it, but also a lot of anxiety.
LUNA: You're going on tour soon, and it’s a different thing to be making music together and then actually spending time on the road. Do you feel ready, and do you feel like you still have reconnecting to do with the band?
TIRABASSI: Yeah, I think we're ready for it. We've been hanging out together now for almost six months. It's another test to be in a metal tube, in a van just driving around for weeks, but I think we're ready, and no part of me feels like it won't be OK.
LUNA: I'm sure performing together is a different experience too. Take me back to those first shows you played after the hiatus and even playing in Chicago, where the band formed.
TIRABASSI: There was actually newfound freedom. Back in the day, we used to be like, “Do we want to try and make our show sound exactly like the record? Or do we want to do something else entirely?” And there was kind of a rift between different people in the band about what we should do. This time around, it was like, “We’re just going to have fun, and play the shows how we want to play them.”
LUNA: Fans are excited to see you back. What is it like seeing the response from people who have been following you, whether they found you at the band’s start or after the hiatus?
TIRABASSI: It's cool that people still care. We were gone for a long time. And the fact that there are people who are saying, “I've been listening to The Walters since 2015.” I really appreciate it. That's crazy.
LUNA: Now you're coming out with music for the first time in a very long time. How do you feel?
TIRABASSI: I'm pumped. We're going to keep making music. There are only five new songs coming out. Not to say there are only five, but we have plans for a lot more new music.
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