[Cover photo credit to Stephanie Kanach]

New Jersey Rock band Kanak have released new single and video “Outside” inspired by a feeling of being on the edges of things.

Tom Kanach, lead singer/songwriter says:

I think a lot of people feel like they don’t fit in, and that has always been true for me. I have never quite felt like I belong. “’Outside’ has a message that is so personal for me, yet also universal. Does anyone ever truly feel like they belong? I love the snarl and anger of it. I am singing that I feel like I should fit in through clenched teeth.

This feeling of detachment from society has fueled not only the creation of this new track but also their upcoming EP, On The Outside which will be released on March 22, 2024 via Pop clique music/ The Orchard.

The coming EP reflects upon loss and isolation impacted by the pandemic.

Tom Kanach continues:

Coming out of the global pandemic and losing my father to COVID really made me realize how fleeting time is and how lonely life can be.

Taking some of the tracks from their previous EP Demolition, which essentially were rough demos, the band transforms them in the studio, giving them a new and vibrant flair.

For the new video, the band culled performance footage across their home state of New Jersey.

They explain:

We pulled footage from The Saint in Asbury, Crossroads in Garwood, Tierney’s in Montclair, The Wonderbar in Asbury, and Pino’s in Highland Park. Because we have only been playing together for a short time, we decided only to play local gigs while working on and honing the songs.

Hoping to record with Producer and mixer Ed Stasium (The Ramones, Talking Heads, Motörhead) who had previously worked with guitarist Johnny Rao on a different project, the band was floored when he said “Yes”.

Tom Kanach shares:

Having three guitar players is a challenge and we thought Ed would be the perfect fit for us. So, Johnny called Ed. Ed agreed to listen to the songs. He loved them and we flew out to San Diego to record them.