Hanging Out With The Backfires: Their Epic Return to the Stage at Heaven Can Wait
Hey groupies, this past Wednesday, we got to check out a killer show at Heaven Can Wait in New York where The Backfires were playing, promoting their upcoming new music. We had the chance to hang with the guys right before they hit the stage, and we squeezed in a quick chat.
For those who don’t know, frontman Alex Gomez made the leap from NYC to London for college to study abroad, where he met guitarist Harry Ruprecht and drummer Max Wanduragala. They teamed up with bassist Matt Walter and formed the band back in 2018 under the name Qualia Noir. After building a fanbase across London and the East Coast, they rebranded as The Backfires.
With this latest release, The Backfires have really stepped up, showing their listeners they’ve got even more to offer than in previous years. We asked them about the process behind the new record and how it differed from what they’d done before.
YFG: What's something different in the process of creating this record that you either stumbled upon or were excited to implement?
Matt: The big thing this time around was the extensive touring. When we were working on our previous EP, we were more isolated during the writing process. Everyone was in the room at the same time, and things would come together while we were playing for ourselves. This time, though, we got to test things out and hash out ideas in front of others instead of in isolation.
Their dedication to having fun with their audience through social media has been fun to watch. We've noticed that a lot of artists lately aren’t fully taking advantage of how easy it is to interact with fans online, which is ironic given how this generation is so internet-focused. But The Backfires do an amazing job of not only sharing their music but also their personalities, making it easy for fans to engage with them.
We asked about their social media game:
YFG: Your social media is really on point. Who’s the mastermind behind the video concepts?
Matt: It’s probably a 50/50 split between Alex and Harry. Alex handles more of the feed posts, while Harry is the mastermind behind the reels and short videos. But it’s really a collaboration across the board. I mean, Harry will pull me or Alex into a reel, and we all contribute ideas.
Harry: Yeah, I’m usually the one reminding everyone, ‘We’ve got to do something!’
There’s something so thrilling about discovering Easter eggs in music videos. It shows that the artist isn’t just making music—they’re creating an entire world for us to explore and engage with. Naturally, we had to ask about it.
YFG: I’ve been dying to ask this since you agreed to the interview. In your videos, there’s a scene in "Brighter Lights" with a "This is not an exit" sign by the door, and in "Dress for a Funeral," when the guy hands the vinyl to the girl. Can you elaborate on that? Are those Easter eggs, or are we reading too much into it?
Harry: Oh, definitely. Those are Easter eggs.
Matt: You could put a wink in there.
YFG: How has the New York music scene influenced your artistic freedom?
Alex: New York is such an exciting place to create music, and there are obviously a lot of bands putting out music right now. For us, it’s been more about having a place where we can all be together. Matt and I grew up in the D.C. area, while Harry and Max were in England, so New York became the spot where we could finally come together as a band. I always believed it was the perfect place for us to start. It’s been influential because we live here now and draw a lot of inspiration from being in New York.
Matt: I think it really comes down to the sheer number of shows we go to. There’s just so much happening here, and it’s not about critiquing in a negative way, but more about observing what other people are doing. We pick up on little things and refine what we want to do based on all the live performances we’ve seen. Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many shows I’ve been to since moving here—it's a crazy amount. That’s probably been the most influential part for me, just being able to watch other bands perform live all the time in New York.
The guys hit the stage looking almost like they were dressed for a funeral (we couldn’t resist the pun). But seriously, the vibe was electric from the moment they stepped onto the stage. They kicked things off with their crowd-pleaser "Joyride," which looking around the venue nearly every person in that room knew the lyrics too. The energy only ramped up as they rolled into their new singles, "Brighter Lights" and "Dressed for a Funeral." Not only did we belt it out at the top of our lungs, but we couldn’t resist standing up on the couch to dance. Apologies to the venue owners in advance, but with so many tall people blocking our view, our bodies decided that 5'5" is the absolute limit for someone who loves going to concerts.
Aside from that, we got to hear their upcoming track, "Replace It All," dropping October 10th. Trust us, it’s another banger in the making. The night didn’t stop there—they surprised everyone with a killer cover of "Don’t You Want Me" by The Human League and brought out Riiza from Strawberry Launch for a guest spot that had the whole room dancing like crazy.
If this show is any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for a wild ride. The energy, the new material, and the way they command the stage just keep getting better with each performance. It’s crazy to think how far they’ve come since we first saw them live back in 2022. With their new single on the horizon and plenty of surprises that we got to hear first that night, we can’t wait to see what they do next. Until then, keep your ears open, your playlists ready, and your eyes on The Backfires, groupies!
All our love,
Your Favorite Groupies
