Próxima Parada releases new single, 13-song album to come
Recorded in four cities in collaboration with over fifteen people, San Luis Obispo-based band Próxima Parada released their newest single, “So Many Ways to Get Downtown,” this past Friday. It’s the first song to be released from their upcoming album which will drop in late 2023.
In the few days since the song’s release, it has been featured on multiple popular playlists, including Spotify’s New Music Friday, which has over four million likes.
Lead singer, Nick Larson, originally took inspiration for the song from his Grandma when she said “there’s so many ways to get downtown and we’re all heading there.” He expanded on its message in the song — wanting everyone to feel accepted wherever they are on their journey.
“It’s a good reminder to not judge the way someone else wants to live their own life, and really the only thing we have control over is ourselves, doing the best you can and being okay with how everyone else wants to do it their way,” bassist Kevin Middlekauff said.
Starting in Larson’s bedroom at the end of 2020, the song made a long journey before it was released. They spent eight days at Sonic Ranch studio in Tornillo, Texas recording the song along with the upcoming album.
“There was amazing equipment we had access to … and I think the quality really comes through. It felt like a leveling up for us,” Larson said.
The song wasn’t just formed in Texas. Próxima Parada wanted it to feel like a collaborative piece, so they included an improvised guitar solo recorded in Big Sur by a close friend, Adam Nash, as well as vocals recorded in Los Angeles by Aankha Neal and Tamina Johnson-Lawson.
“It’s cool how there’s just all these parts coming together from Big Sur, from L.A., from West Texas … it took easily a thousand hours to get to that point,” Larson said. “But no one can quite understand the love that is poured into a song.”
The band took inspiration from ‘90s R&B to make the song come to life, wanting it to be a song where people can feel uplifted and groove. “So Many Ways to Get Downtown” is the first single from their new album which includes thirteen songs in Spanish and English.
“It’ll be the most dynamic, different album I think that we’ve put out,” Larson said. “Like from song to song I think there are so many different vibes.”
“Tunnel Through a Mountain” will be the next single that the band will release. Unlike “So Many Ways to Get Downtown,” this song was recorded acoustically and sung around one microphone.
“There’s songs that feature horns, there’s songs that feature strings and cellos. There are so many different feels encompassed into one big project,” Larson said. “I think it’s the most ambitious record we’ve put out but it’s cool because it’s all very much us.”
Próxima Parada will be going on tour at the end of March. Their tour will include headlining shows, supporting performances for Wild Child and festivals such as Summer Camp Music Festival and FloydFest. Tickets can be purchased on their website.
