Chicago punk icons Alkaline Trio close out their trio of standalone singles with the release of ‘Surprise Surprise,’ available now on all digital platforms via Rise Records. The track marks the third and final song in the band’s 7-inch vinyl and digital single series produced by Travis Barker, showcasing a more subdued and emotionally raw side of the band’s ever-evolving sound.
“’Surprise Surprise’ was inspired by and written for a friend of mine who grew up poor and entrenched in gang life, only to become a Navy SEAL and eventually an astronaut,” says Matt Skiba. “It’s his story, combined with my own thoughts regarding how a sort of alchemy takes place when someone takes the experiences of a bad situation and is able to turn them into something profound and beautiful. The rough sketch of the song had only verse and chorus parts but no bridge which was written by Dan in the studio. This song was the last one of the three we did in this session with Travis Barker and was even more of a collaboration and studio creation than the previous two.”
Recorded during the same sessions as the previously released singles “Bleeding Out” and “Oblivion,” ‘Surprise Surprise’ completes a cohesive creative chapter for Alkaline Trio. The songs represent the first studio recordings to feature the band’s current lineup: Matt Skiba on vocals and guitar, Dan Andriano on bass and vocals, and Atom Willard on drums.
“Recording with Alkaline Trio was such a treat,” adds Travis Barker. “Bringing these songs to life from the demos Matt recorded was so exciting. Both Matt and Dan are incredible lyricists, two of my all-time favourites. The studio never feels like work, just a magical place to create. The process was so natural and easy, I could’ve kept going forever. Really proud of these songs me, Matt, Dan, and Atom recorded. Excited for what’s ahead for Alkaline Trio and for fans to hear these special songs we made.”
Alongside the digital release, ‘Surprise Surprise’ is also available as a limited-edition color 7-inch vinyl via Rise Records, featuring an exclusive demo version on the B-side.