Box of Matches, an indie rock band from Martinez, California released the EP “No More Sad Songs” which they describe as a collection of “all of our most depressing music, mostly about living with a life-threatening illness and dead dads” adding, “in a fun way” this past October, delivering an EP that is exactly what one would want to hear: a fusion of rock-pop elements, weaving together emotive vocals, compelling guitar riffs, and meticulous production.
Box of Matches emerged from a shared love for indie rock, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of influences like Big Thief, The Strokes, and Sufjan Stevens. With their blend of evocative lyricism, infectious melodies, and a fusion of rock influences, Box of Matches continues to carve its niche in the California indie music scene, leaving an indelible mark on audiences drawn to heartfelt, melancholy, guitar-driven sounds. The EP has the perfect blend of crunchy, distorted guitars and reverb, particularly on the track “My Old Man”, which gives us the heavy release that gives the listener a great sense of empathy for the artists who created it.
We love the twangy-guitar intros, the drums which set the tone perfectly for the vibe of the EP, and the vocals remind us in a way of great indie rock that came out of the mid-2000s. We love the alternating male and female lead vocals on the EP, particularly Kendra Meneghetti’s clear, glistening lead vocals on the single “Annie”.
Our picks from the EP are “Cornflakes”, “Annie” and “Two Kinds of Sadness”, check them out with the Spotify links below:
What we found most impressive when we were getting to know the band and music of Box of Matches is that Kendra recently had a successful heart and lung transplant. When we read this, we stopped and were stunned. The single from the EP, “Two Kinds of Sadness” takes this subject head-on, where with the lyrics, we hear the conversation between Aaron and Kendra.
“Two Kinds of Sadness” is, in a sense, a coming-of-age song about the realization that the people you love won’t be around forever and the fear that knowledge brings with it.” -AB
We wanted to get to know Box of Matches more; here is our exclusive interview with Aaron Baker and Mark McKinney from the band:
SBN: First off… we need to know how Kendra is. We can’t even imagine what it has been like to have someone close to us having both a heart and lung transplant.
Kendra is doing well! The recovery isn’t linear, but we’ve had significantly fewer hospitalizations post-transplant and she just hit a record for her pulmonary function tests last month. -AB
SBN: We could hear the anxiety and cries of fear in “Two Kinds of Sadness” – can you help us understand exactly what the two kinds are for our readers?
I found out Kendra was sick at nineteen, and at that age I had experienced heartbreak and disappointment and the usual stuff that nineteen-year-olds go through. But finding out that someone like her was fighting this losing battle for her health right under all of our noses kind of changed my brain chemistry. Kendra and I had been friends since middle school and I never knew she was sick, but I always thought she had a super-human capacity for kindness and empathy. I’m married to her now so I can tell you she’s actually quite a gremlin, but a loveable one. -AB
SBN: Do phone calls trigger you?
Only if they’re about my car’s extended warranty. -AB
SBN: How much does the role of music play in recovery?
For me, it’s been more about processing my emotions as I lived through them than recovery. But in the future, I’d like to focus more on telling good stories. -AB
SBN: Tell us about “Cornflakes”. This is our favorite track on the EP.
Cornflakes is a song that has gone through many iterations. It was a pain in the ass to produce because it felt like whatever we did it just ended up sounding like Two Kinds of Sadness part II. It’s a song I’ve had to listen to so many times I can’t really listen to it anymore. -AB
Somebody actually likes Cornflakes?? – MH
SBN: We love the male and female vocals. It reminds us of a band that perhaps has some influence on your sound… Are there any Fleetwood Mac fans here? We can hear a little bit of their vibe in “Annie”.
I like Fleetwood Mac, but I’m not like a huge fan or anything. However, I do always tell people we have a “bit of a Fleetwood Mac” thing because we have two lead vocalists. -AB
Photos by Ronan Furuta:
