INTRO BY MIKAYLA LAWLESS
INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAINTED YOUNG
Chris Santos, or more commonly known as Painted Young, has recently released his first-ever EP titled I’m Not Gonna Wait. The lead single, called “The Madhouse,” is one of the darker songs he has written, detailing struggles with mental health, including his own. Painted Young is definitely not an artist you’re going to want to miss out on!
You recently released the lead single “The Madhouse” off your EP, I’m Not Gonna Wait. Can you tell us a little about the song and how it came about?
“I think a lot of people would say ‘The Madhouse’ is my hardest-hitting song. It’s definitely a lot darker and a bit heavier than the typical music I’m used to writing. I’ve never really written a song about my struggles with mental health before, so that was the main inspiration behind it. I see the song as a chaotic and frustrated call for help. The depictions of being stuck in a mental asylum are basically a metaphor or hyperbole of my frustrations about dealing with my own struggles.”
Why did you choose “The Madhouse” to be the first single off the EP?
“Out of all the songs on the EP, this one was definitely the stronger contender. It had the energy and character needed to introduce people to the new chapter of Painted Young, while getting them excited too.”
What was the process like creating I’m Not Gonna Wait?
“Throughout the whole process, I’d say I felt a sense of freedom. It’s my first project as a solo artist and I had a lot of creative freedom to do things the way I wanted to. Also, it’s been 4 years since my first EP with my former bandmates, so writing, recording, and playing new music feels like escaping this form of purgatory.”
How would you describe the EP in three words?
“Diverse. Me. LONG-overdue...”
Of the songs on the EP, which one would you say represents you best as an artist and why?
‘I think the one that best represents me is ‘Needle in a Haystack.’ It’s a fun rock song that people can jump and nod their heads to, but it also has some pop grooves that people can really dance to. I’ve always been a sucker for pop rock and pop punk, so I think that song really describes me. Or maybe ‘The Madhouse’ just because I’m a bit crazy.”