PREMIERE: SAME PAINS Commence 2025 Season with ‘candle memory’ Music Video

One of my fav discoveries last year was North Queensland metalcore outfit SAME PAINS, who not only dominated their placement at BIGSOUND, but released a killer collection of tunes under the title Closure – an aggregate.

Fast forward to today, we’re proud to be watching the lads close off that most successful chapter of their careers with the premiere of the brand new music video for opening track, ‘candle memory‘. With haunting visuals that fit the absolute vibe of the song, it won’t take long before you’re bouncing off the walls with euphoric expression.

Along with the premiere, we catch up with the group to recap the year that was and take a look into what’s next for the promising rising act…

Welcome back SAME PAINS. You’ve had a busy run since we met you at BIGSOUND, what’s news in your neck of the woods?

Justin: For us that would be the release of our first collection “Closure – an aggregate” which we dropped in October 2024. We’ve already got this year planned out to be out busiest yet.

We’re pumped to premiere the music video for ‘candle memory’ – tell us about the creative process for the video and how you tied it into the lyrical content.

James: Personally, the creative process went terribly actually. We had recorded/attempted multiple versions of this song initially with a lot of re-iterations, different ideas and scope changes, in the end we had to stop and take a step back and have a look at the root problem. Having recently purchased a camera for capturing moments whilst travelling, I had an urge to take it to the next level, working together with our team who we previously worked with on our other music videos (‘Unsew‘/’Palebodypaleheart‘), we learned from each other along the way. I realized that people involved were missing the tools to do the job to the absolute fullest of everyone’s capabilities. With this I naturally fell into the planning, set design/narrative aspect of it visually trying to recreate Justin’s lyrics in a way that’s easy to interpret.

People think you can just make shit out of nothing and a camera but the truth is, in the real world it’s like someone coming to me and asking me to install some down lights in a house but giving me no down lights hahah. I took my mentality from work and applied it here. You need resources and tools to do any job properly and planning to support that. I had already made up my mind that all of us needed to be present on the project. All the greatest people we know of their craft. If one person is missing, the whole job suffered.

We should all be super proud of each other.

This music video wraps up the closure – an aggregate release cycle – what are some of your fav memories from this period with the music and reactions from fans and new listeners?

Jaden: For me, the experience of launching with ‘Unsew‘, and seeing how people interacted with it had me cheesing the entire time, it felt like every release from there stepped it up in some sort of way, which is an indescribable feeling. However it does make it pretty intimidating to figure out what we do next aha.

James: I think the local album release show we did really set it in stone. We have a lot of people in our home town who’ve been supportive of us from the beginning and it was great to see the chain reaction of our small music scene where people bring their friends who have never listened to us before. It was also great to have the show as personal as it was. Playing on our friend’s mini-ramp in his skate shop, we made it as DIY as possible. The people involved in organizing it and making it happen were all other local musicians and friends who we grew up with. We wanted it to be special and community focused. Especially being regional.

And you released a bunch of vinyl variants for the album – what’s still available for those who what a physical copy of the release?

Jaden: We are releasing these vinyls alongside our good friends at Breakthrough Records, who have been an absolute dream to work with. We’ve sold out of the clears and the wax mages however we’ve got limited numbers of the other variants, make sure you go check out their site!

On top of playing your first shows in East Coast Cap Cities and Darwin, you also scored a slot at the Rhythm & The Reef Festival in Mackay. How was that experience and has it set a fire under your belts to pop up on more shows?

Justin: Yes absolutely. It would be phenomenal to have the opportunity to play shows like that again. We are so grateful for the year that we have had. Rhythm was honestly so fun and the team over there absolutely rule. The crowd was bonkers and extremely receptive, we couldn’t have asked for anything more. Was awesome to see for local music <3

Jaden: RATR was a game changer, we got to meet heaps of people that give a shit about what we do which is always awesome. For me, it makes me feel like 2024 was the prologue, 2025 is the first chapter.

Speaking of, what are the current touring plans for SAME PAINS?

Jaden: We laid low for the end of 2024, but will be announcing a run of shows in the next week. There’ll be more to come in the latter of the year as well. We’re keen to absolutely kill it this year.

Having gone from not being on our radar, to now being front of mind when discussions around North QLD bands come up, what’s the biggest thing the band collectively will take from this year and into the future?

Justin: The 6 P’s. Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. And remember that we are all in this shit together, that’s a big one. Love you boys x

James: I think being the 2 older musicians in the band, things have changed a lot in the industry over the years from when we were kids. We rely on each other heavily, our friends, family and colleagues. A band isn’t just the members of that band, it’s a whole lot more. Now more than ever we realize we can’t fuck around anymore and need to go into this 150%.

Have there also been discussions about including an Emergency Shorts Fund for Justin or is he taking it easy with the on-stage rips since the BIGSOUND incident?

Jaden: Having been the second downstairs mix up we’ve had live with our short time active, it’s only natural that it’s accounted for in our upcoming tour budget.

Justin: Hahah damn, my anxiety hey. Preferably something that can handle my bunda and terrible dancing. I apologise to anyone who experienced that with me.

Where are we at with new music? Have you been head down bum up writing?

James: Closing the chapter of the last album, there’s already another collection of works recorded and is being scheduled for release. The writing never stops, the goal is to always have one in the chamber.

Before we wrap it up, what do you want fans – both new and old – to know about the group heading into a new year?

Jaden: “Alexa play ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’ by Bachman Turner Overdrive“

James: There’s a massive appreciation we have for the people who listen to us and support us, we wouldn’t be anywhere without these people. To the old, Thank you. To the new, welcome. We’re not slowing down.

Justin: If you read this, you’re a real one. We are just some homies trying our best to do what we love. We are already working on that new new, so keep posted and thank yall for everything.

Interview by Paul ‘Browny’ Brown @brownypaul

Get your closure – an aggregate vinyl variant here or stream here

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