NEW : "Can't Get Hurt" by EXNATIONS

image by Adele Sakey

Eastern-US indie pop trio EXNATIONS make a splash with "Can't Get Hurt".

Sal Mastrocola (vocals, guitar, and synth), Dan Ciarrocchi (guitar), and Taylor Hughes (drums, synth) affirmed their spot as one to watch with the release of their single "Never About The Money" last year. Today, the three-piece is back with more of their addictive indie pop, in the form of new song "Can't Get Hurt". The single is just as fun as predecessor, with contrasting dynamics and tempos, atmospheric synths, and punchy vocals accenting the chorus, that you just have to sing along to. 

The band's slick, effortless sound would not have you guessing that they write all their music from different cities and states, working together on the internet. "[Our music-making process is] odd in the sense that we're rarely in the same room when we write songs, and that did take some getting used to," says guitarist Ciarrocchi. Mastrocola lives in Brooklyn, recording vocals in his room, and Hughes records drums in Baltimore. "One of us will come up with an idea, whether it's a riff or an entire outline of a song, and just leave it in our Dropbox for someone else to tinker with. From there, one or two of us will fill in the blanks with vocals, guitar, percussion, or really anything the song calls for," Ciarrocchi details the process. 

When I asked the band to describe the song, they delivered a personal explanation behind the upbeat tune. "The inspiration for this song comes from the constant presence of anxiety, and how it can make you feel a bit crazy," Mastrocola explains, "[...] merely existing through all of the shenanigans of modern America can take a Herculean effort." Despite these struggles, this song is about acceptance, learning to deal with anxiety, and the "realization that if you can look your anxiety in the eye and be comfortable with it being there - you can live with it." Mastrocola says, "This song is a celebration of the moment that anxiety's weight is lifted. In that moment, you might as well dance."

"Can't Get Hurt" has a music video coming very soon, and when given a chance to describe it, Mastrocola asks, "Do you like puppets?" The band shot the video at a Brooklyn studio, "creating a colorful world where the three of us, a Llama, an Ostrich, and a Mouse danced around a variety of brightly colored whimsical props and sets," the vocalist adds, "It reinforces the ultimate message of the song: staring down your anxiety dead in the eyes, accepting it, and getting on with your life."

Along with the puppetry-themed clip, EXNATIONS has more music on the way. "Our bucket list for this year is literally overflowing but our main focus is releasing our debut EP, Tiny Sound in the Dark," Hughes says. As for other plans for the future, Hughes reveals an important goal: "Maybe even recording a song in the same room at the same time, that'd be a big deal for us!" 

Listen to "Can't Get Hurt" on Spotify and Apple Music.
Special thanks to EXNATIONS for taking the time out of their busy release week to answer my questions!