Joyce Manor have always thrived in the gray space between pop-punk urgency and indie-rock introspection. Frontman Barry Johnson, with his wry lyricism and knack for hooks that hit like gut punches, has led the band from sweaty DIY shows in the mid-2000s to becoming cult heroes of the emo revival—though he’d probably roll his eyes at the label. The band’s songs are short, sharp, and addictive, packing entire universes into barely two minutes.
Their latest single, “All My Friends Are So Depressed,” captures Joyce Manor’s trademark balance of humor and heaviness. Inspired, improbably, by a Tecate delivery truck covered in religious slogans, it channels The Libertines and blink-182 into something uniquely their own. Talking with Barry is like talking to a friend at a late-night diner after the show—funny, self-deprecating, and sharp enough to cut through the noise. Just don’t expect him to nerd out about your favorite ’90s emo bands. He’s not interested.
Please introduce yourself and give us the backstory on how you got started.
Barry Johnson (Joyce Manor): Hi, I’m Barry and I play guitar and sing in Joyce Manor. I got started playing local punk shows back in 2004 and have been basically doing the same thing ever since.
How would you describe your music?
Johnson: Emo-tinged pop punk with some indie rock elements.
Who are your biggest influences?
Johnson: Weezer, The Smiths/Morrissey, and blink-182.
What was the inspiration behind your new single, “All My Friends Are So Depressed”?
Johnson: I saw a Tecate delivery truck with Jesus Saves-type stuff all over it, and the line “lord above in a Tecate truck” popped into my head. Musically, it reminds me of The Libertines and Blink-182.
What would surprise people most about you?
Johnson: People are often surprised that I haven’t heard—or am not into—certain emo bands from the ’90s that I find boring and unlistenable, but they swear we sound just like them.
Interview by Shawn Alexander from #HAPPENS
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