“The act of drowning is something extremely terrifying, yet calming at the same time” says guitarist and vocalist Nick Maxwell of SHURR JR. about their new single “DROWNING” which is released today via Max Trax Records. He continues, “While this song isn’t about actually drowning, it is about the feeling of emotionally drowning in a relationship that is basically dead. Walking away feels impossible, but staying feels like slow emotional suicide.” Drummer and brother of Nick, Frankie Maxwell adds, “Each piece of the song is different and never repeats. The melody and instrumentation move through each ‘moment’ like a train.”
Inspired by Elliott Smith, the Avett Brothers, Title Fight, and Charmer, Nick and Frankie started writing songs and practicing in their mother’s garage in 2015, while their sister Kelly Maxwell (who was teaching herself to play guitar at the time) listened and bobbed her head along to the music. Inspired by the death of their father Frank, who was in popular Omaha, NE band Fifth of May, the siblings turned inward and decided that the best way to honor their dad was through music (the band’s name is a tribute to Frank’s catch phrases, “Sure, Junior”).
A song about the toxicity of relationships not worth saving, “Drowning” embodies the theory of displacement in trying to decide hope to cope. “The perspective of this song flips back and forth, which is something that I had never done before when writing,” says Nick about the lyrics. “I am trying to cope with a dead relationship by partying, which is the opposite of what someone should be doing to heal.” Fueled by Nick’s thrashing guitar and Kelly and Frank’s driving, grungy rhythm section, the rousing single introduces Shurr Jr. as a formidable band to watch.
Set for release on March 28, the band’s debut EP Red Shelter carries not only excitement for the future ahead but also serves as an emotional embrace of their musical inspiration – their father who was saving the moniker “Red Shelter” for either an album title or a future band. “He is my biggest inspiration musically, because he was the person who got me into guitar,” explains Nick. “He told me when I was first learning to play, ‘Nick, if you want to truly do this, you have to put every ounce of you into the instrument, and I can’t teach you that. You have to learn that on your own.'”
Blending Nick’s rhythmic, pummeling guitar playing, earworm melodies, emotive lyrics, with Frankie’s upbeat drumming and Kelly’s bouncy bass rhythms, Shurr Jr. creates a meeting ground between grunge, emo, punk, surf, and rock which was showcased in the band’s 2021 digitally-released single, “Dysania/Uncool.“
Red Shelter was produced and engineered by Nate Van Fleet (Better Oblivion Community Center, Semler, Criteria), and will be released March 28th via Max Trax Records. The single and lyric video “Drowning” is out today, January 31, 2025.
