Based in Oceanside, "Summer Years is rock music," according to singer-guitarist Nick Lanari. "Pop and punk rock-infused music, but at its core, it's for anyone who likes to rock and enjoys lots of melody. We definitely operate with the energy and big rhythms of a punk band, but I think we will always be accessible to anyone. Kids who are just getting into guitar music or who have never listened to pop punk! I think our music is for everyone. Even soccer moms."
The band signed with Ecni Records (Beach Goons, The Joy Formidable) and released a new single in July 2021, "This Light," off an EP due later that year, You Can't Live There Forever, produced by Adam Sisco, Chris Szczech, and Mike Liorti, and mixed by Chris Lord Alge (Green Day, The All-American Rejects) and Steve Rizun (NOFX, The Flatliners).
The EP was Recorded in the midst of the global pandemic. According to Nick Lanari, "Moving forward with a project like this was intimidating because there was no clear future set before us, no shows or tours to work towards or any inkling of what the future of the music industry will be like. It was just us in there getting it done with a lot of uncertainty in our future. It was really cathartic at the same time because we felt really fortunate to be able to do what we love during these times and to be able to be creative and expressive is a healing force. The word perseverance really comes to mind with this EP, and it's really fitting for walking through the last year and a half."
The EP was previewed by a single for "This Light." According to singer-guitarist Nick Lanari, "'This Light' is about the idea that it's not too late to pursue what you have always dreamed of, and battling the idea of 'I'll start working toward it tomorrow,' but tomorrow never seems to come. Live your best life now. Today. Find your way to thrive. Failure is not eternal, pain is not eternal, your past doesn't define you, you can't live there forever."
Most of the video for the track was shot around Carlsbad and Encinitas. "We filmed some drone shots at the very end of the day, and none other than Tom Delonge [of Blink 182] drove by us in his big Ford Raptor in Encinitas. It was epic. A good omen even. We just wanted to kind of say, 'Hey this is who we are, and this is what our world is like. This is Summer Years,' and I think we captured that really well."
A second EP single was released in October 2021 for "The Picture You Paint." According to Mike Liorti, “The Picture You Paint's overall premise is dealing with doubt. As musicians, we kinda live a life of constant Show & Tell to our fans, friends, and family. These days, especially, even the most passionate/understanding supporters & teammates can quickly lose touch of the artists' vision/potential and basically dismiss them entirely. The smallest comment/action of doubt can be very potent and contagious (sometimes even making its way into the artists' mind.) So the song is coming from a Relic/Lifer's evolved mindset of understanding the bliss/oasis that comes from creating art for nobody but themselves and letting the dominoes fall as they may. The video is a compilation of the post-pandemic live shows we've been so honored and lucky to play and capture thanks to the help of our extremely supportive local scene.” A video was also produced for the track.
The third single single from You Can't Live There Forever (released January 7, 2022), "What You're Made Of," appeared on Apple Music's New In Rock Playlist. A music video was produced for the track.
A video was also produced for the single "Small World." According to Noah Rabe, "Small World is the first ballad from Summer Years. Nick wrote the lyrics about his home town and the desire to keep the things you love sacred and the same, but knowing that things always change is the best way to value what you have. If it doesn’t last forever, when ‘it’ is happening, that’s the time to enjoy it. As for the video we got to enjoy a couple hot August summer days near Joshua Tree filming. We loved the cast and crew we worked with. Everyone was motivated to put together something special, and I think we did just that."
(Photo courtesy Earshot Media)