THE RIDER: Strawberry Launch's Top 10
The band (whose sophomore EP is out TODAY!) on glitter, nebulizers and the tour/life staple that is the giant sweatshirt
Happy Friday and HAPPY RELEASE DAY to BK pop pals Strawberry Launch, who (what luck!) have dropped their sophomore EP (Bad Luck) TODAY!
Bad Luck is a “poignant exploration of the highs and lows of young adulthood” — an idea the group has been diving into since the 2023 release of “Ready Yet,” a nostalgia-soaked track (the first of the band’s then-new chapter) that premiered on BdBK last spring and was described as an “honest soliloquy about the fear of getting older.”
The album also includes the sweet ~summer love anthem~ “Light Blue Sheets” (cue another video for the visual learners)…
Plus three other songs, including the final (title) track “Bad Luck,” which serves as a call to not just accept but embrace life’s ups/downs/oddities/uncertainties—and, as the EP press release instructs, dance through it all.
“Meeting her for dinner / you turn a blind eye
Yeah I think you should leave him / and you ask my why
It’s just bad luck, just a bad deal, it’s just bad luck, just a bad year”
Bad Luck is out and avail for your listening pleasure now! And as the release show was actually, uh, last night (cruel!), we’re instead here to present you with your consolation prize: CONTENT!
So enjoy the Musical fruits of Strawberry Launch’s labor, read on for the group’s top 10 and hang tight—
The band currently has a tour and debut album in the works, meaning there’s much more Strawberry Launch coming your way soon…
STRAWBERRY LAUNCH’S TOP 10
1. Glitter
Nobody. Goes. On. Stage. Without. Glitter. This has been a strict rule of mine for longer than this band has been around. Each gig I pull up with not one but two bags of all sorts of glitter in every color. My favorite brand is Colourpop. (Taylor)
2. Monopoly Deal
Monopoly but it’s a card game. And IMO it’s so much better than regular monopoly because the games are much quicker (like 30 mins) and also you can play anywhere!! I brought Monopoly Deal to Canada when we played NXNE and everyone was FIENDING to play it whether we were at a bar, at the venue we were playing or late at night in the airbnb. (Taylor)
3. Squishmallow
A piece of home to bring with me wherever we go :) Comfy to sleep with when I’m in a new bed/couch/air mattress and doubles as a perfect little pillow for van naps! (Abby)
4. Snacks
We’re all big snackers and we need to have something to munch on in the van at all times! Usually consists of some type of chip (potato, spicy, pretzel, crackers) and gummies - especially sour ones! (Abby)
5. AirPods
Sometimes I like to have my alone time in the car when we’re driving to different cities, especially on long car rides. Listening to my own music keeps me relaxed and calm and helps me fall asleep sometimes. (Matrianna)
6. Beer
At every show, I look forward to getting drinks tickets so I can get myself a refreshing beer. It’s also fun to see if each bar has local beers on draft, which I like to try sometimes. (Matrianna)
7. A giant sweatshirt
I get cold at the weirdest of times, but I also hate carrying around an extra pillow and blanket when we tour (gotta save that space). I have an old, black and white Adidas sweatshirt that was my mom’s back in the 80s. The sleeves are frayed and falling apart, will probably wear it until there are no sleeves left. (Riiza)
8. My nebulizer
Life.changing.gadget. I have some theatre friends who rave about nebulizers, especially since they're doing 8 shows a week sometimes. It's similar to a vaporizer, but much smaller and has a saline concentrate that does a great job coating the vocal cords. Been such a lifesaver for back to back show days, bouncing back from colds and sickness on the road, and speeds up the warming-up process. I have some high, long notes that felt really daunting before, but my nebulizer keeps me comfortable throughout sets now. Definitely cured a lot of my anxieties! (Riiza)
9. Red Bull
An absolute necessity for a long stretch of road on tour, along with a good true-crime podcast… (Benjy)
10. Drink tickets
Some get into this game for stardom, me on the other hand? Handing over an arcade ticket for a sweet sweet hard cider. (Benjy)
The Top 10 above written + provided by Strawberry Launch. Follow the band at @strawberrylaunch, buy music on Bandcamp and add the songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image (provided by the band): Meghan Marshall