YOUNG
THE GIANT
As Young the Giant heads into a new chapter, the band is already looking ahead to their next big project. With album number six in progress, the group finds themselves returning to a simpler, more spontaneous approach to music-making. “It’s about simplicity, accessing joy,” reflects lead singer Sameer Gadhia. For a band whose name once felt like a “cool-sounding” mystery, “Young the Giant” now represents a deeper theme – an ode to youth, inspirations, and beauty in everyday life.
After parting ways with their major label for their previous album, American Bollywood, the band crafted a sonic story that was both ambitious and deeply personal. With the as-yet-unreleased record as a foundation, they now feel they’ve reached a new vantage point, able to look both backward at their journey and forward to the music they still want to create. Drummer Francois Comtois jokes that the creative process requires “a little delusion” to keep the optimism alive, even as they play their past hits countless times on tour. This time around, the band’s energy is electric, and they’re eager to build something truly cohesive.
For Young the Giant, collaboration has always been the heart of their sound. But over the years, the way they work together has evolved. “When we were younger, it was just about getting into a room and hashing it out,” says guitarist Jacob Tilley. Now, however, they approach the process with a more structured mindset, carving out dedicated time in the studio to explore ideas. “We try to let the best idea win, no matter where it comes from,” adds Gadhia. “It’s about putting egos aside and focusing on the music.”
The band’s long-standing connection certainly helps. After nearly 15 years together, they’ve learned how to communicate without words, intuitively understanding each other’s instincts. This chemistry translates on stage, where every performance feels like a celebration of the music they’ve built together.
Getting on stage together is a great equalizer,” say guitarist Eric Cannata. “When we’re up there, we remember why we’re doing this. It’s about the music and the amazing connection between us and the fans.”
The band celebrated that connection throughout 2024 with a 10th anniversary reissue of their breakthrough album, Mind Over Matter in July (with previously unreleased tracks “What You Get” and “Metropolis” (acoustic), among other rarities) and live shows celebrating the set. The band also teamed up with Neuro, a gum and mints company with a focus on mental health, to celebrate their sophomore album, which they note on their website “is about mental health and overcoming obstacles.” The collaboration includes a limited edition tin and t-shirt available exclusively through the Young the Giant online store, and a portion of the proceeds benefit The Trevor Project, an organization furthering mental wellness among LGBTQ+ youth.
The band leans on their shared experiences to navigate the challenges of life on the road, because touring hasn’t always been easy, especially in their early years. “We started out in a van and lived in a bunch of places together,” Comtois recalls. Those early days taught them resilience and how to reach other’s moods without words.
Each member has their own way of finding peace on tour. Gadhia seeks out cozy coffee shops to read, Comtois likes to go for runs, and Cannata embraces the familial vibe with the crew. “It’s a balance between giving each other space and being there when it counts,” says Cannata.
Over the years, Young the Giant has learned invaluable lessons from both mentors and their own experiences. Gadhia recalls advice from the band Everest during one of their first tours, “The singer told me to embrace my voice, not try to mask it,” he says. In a genre where authenticity often grapples with fitting a mold, this guidance has stayed with him.
Comtois also reflects on their early days, particularly the lesson that they had to become their own advocates. “Getting signed felt like we’d made it,” he says. “But really, that was just the starting point. You have to have the ability and the stamina to continue being an advocate for yourself.”
Having been in the industry for over a decade, the band is vocal about the challenges musicians face today. Rising costs make touring prohibitively expensive, and streaming revenues often fail to compensate artists fairly. “We should care about where the music comes from, just like we care about where our food or clothes come from,” Gadhia emphasizes. “When musicians can’t make a living from their art, it stifles creativity and limits what music can become.”
Through Gadhia’s podcast, Point of Origin, he’s also championing diversity in the alternative scene, creating space for artists who go unrecognized.
Alternative music has always been a melding of cultures,” he says. “The goal is to appreciate artists for what they do and let their stories be told.”
As Young the Giant embarks on this next phase, their focus remains on crafting music that speaks to both their journey and to those who listen. Embracing a dynamic that values authenticity, camaraderie, and creative freedom, they’re setting the stage for an album that reflects their evolution. For Young the Giant, it’s not just about starting anew–it’s about moving forward with purpose.