Brooklyn-based indie-punk quartet Sadlands have released their latest single and video, “Die Young,” taken from their debut album Try To Have A Little Fun, out now via Wiretap Records. The track captures the band’s trademark balance of raw emotion and bright, melodic energy, channeling heartbreak, humor, and resilience in equal measure.
Formed by members of Answering Machine, Choke Up, and Ellen and the Degenerates, Sadlands bring together the songwriting and vocals of Sam Campanile and Jess Lane, joined by Louis Rabeno on bass and Harley Cox on drums. Their music fuses jangly guitars and sharp pop-punk hooks with an undercurrent of vulnerability that feels both timeless and contemporary.
“Die Young” leans into the band’s flair for contrast — shimmering guitars and driving rhythms set against introspective lyrics about survival, love, and self-worth. It’s a song that celebrates commitment and courage while confronting the fear of impermanence. The accompanying video, directed by Jess Lane, reimagines the longing and isolation of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” through a modern, emotionally charged lens.
The band recorded Try To Have A Little Fun during the summer of 2024 with producer Matt Schimelfenig (Gladie) at The Bunk in the Pennsylvania Poconos. The album was mastered by Ian Farmer (Modern Baseball) at The Metal Shop in Philadelphia. Across its twelve tracks, Sadlands explore themes of health, heartbreak, and humor with the kind of clarity and grit that define today’s DIY scene.
With Try To Have A Little Fun, Sadlands deliver a debut that’s as hook-filled as it is heartfelt — proof that even the heaviest stories can shimmer with melody and warmth.
Watch the video for “Die Young” below:
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