We had the pleasure of interviewing The Ongoing Concept over Zoom video!
We The band — brothers Dawson Scholz [vocals, guitar], Kyle Scholz [vocals, keys, percussion], and Parker Scholz [drums] along with TJ Nichols [vocals, bass], and Andy Crateau [vocals, guitar] — have released their fourth album Again, out via Solid State Records.
Not only is this the first taste of new music from the band since 2017 but it also marks the return of the original lineup.
"'Unwanted Again' was one of our favorites to write and record," states Dawson. "Being fans of bands like Cory Wong, Dirty Loops, Don Broco, and Vulfpeck, we found ourselves incorporating a lot of groovy elements to this album, and this song really showcases that. It was also fun to bounce vocals back between TJ and I. For longtime fans of our band, we added some subtle references to our song 'Unwanted'; not only in the song, but in the music video as well. Being our second single and coming after a heavy hitter like 'Prisoner Again,' I think this song showcases the variety we put into this album."
The Ongoing Concept emerged with the now-seminal Saloon back in 2013. On its heels, fan favorite Handmade bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums Chart and Top Christian Albums Chart in addition to cracking the Top 30 of the Top Independent Albums Chart. In its wake, Kyle, Parker, and TJ departed, leaving Dawson as the sole original member for Places in 2017. As The Ongoing Concept went dormant, the group's catalog continued to react with listeners as the likes of "Cover Girl" clocked over a million Spotify streams and counting. After a period of quiet, communication mended between Dawson and his brothers Kyle and Parker. Between careers, marriages, and kids, they kicked around the idea of playing together once more."We’d been playing music since we were six-years-old," notes Dawson.
"We lived and breathed the same band together. It's crazy, because I didn't know my brothers outside of music. Taking a break for a few years, we found who we were as normal people and embraced other interests. It was super healthy for all of us. One day, we were hanging out, and I said, 'You know I’ve been working on some little skeletons for songs,' and it made sense. The only reason we got back together was because we had our time apart."
They self-produced Again and took their time. The Ongoing Concept integrated "lyrics and Easter Eggs" from previous albums into the record’s framework, embodying the title quite literally.
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