The San Diego-based alternative rock quartet Los Saints has unveiled “If Everything Goes,” the third single from their highly anticipated debut album ‘Certified’, slated for release on July 26 via ENCI Records.
Los Saints’ 2022 EP, ‘Welcome To Confusion,’ garnered praise from the likes of Alternative Press, Under The Radar, Remezcla, Buzzbands LA, The Honey Pop and more.
Speaking on the single, guitarist/vocalist Angel Mariscal says, “It be hard not to feel like a burden sometimes, or sometimes, all the time. Or, if something ends without an answer as to why, you could go about it two ways. The first way is to seek out the answer, no matter where you have to go or who have to talk to, doing all of this WITHIN REASON and either accept that things just happen sometimes and move on or resolve things. Or two, you could let the silence go on, or let the ship thatâs slowly sinking, sink and over time come up with you own answer which is, just blame yourself. So the second thing is what i tend to do, which is not good, so donât do it. Thatâs what this song is about pretty much.”
Stream “If Everything Goes” HERE
Art opens a window into the soul. It doubles as a haven for all of our most intimate thoughts, desires, and emotions. Like splashing paint on a canvas, Los Saints pour all of their experiences and feelings into a vibrant mosaic of indie, alternative, and rock. They piece together memories and mantras in the form of gauzy melodies, fuzzy guitars, and dusty rhythmic grooves. Co-founded by cousins Angel Mariscal [vocals, guitar] and Emiliano Garcia [drums] as well as Gianluca Exposito [guitar], who has since parted ways with the band, the group have quietly buzzed out of the sleepy border town of Chula Vista, CA with sold out shows and acclaim from the likes of San Diego Union Tribune, Remezcla, Alternative Press, and more.
Now, Los Saints sharpen their distinct and dynamic signature style on their forthcoming full-length debut LP, ‘Certified’ [ENCI Records].
âLos Saints isnât just a band for me,â proclaims Angel. âItâs everything. Itâs all I can do. That goes for the other guys too. The more we know ourselves, the more we know what our band is and are able to define our sound. Certified is who we are not just as musicians, but as people.â
Growing up in a Mexican-American family, he immersed himself in music. His mom hailed from Tijuana, and his dad grew up in the United States. Classic rap boomed through the house as he eventually gravitated towards Mac Miller and his âlifelong biggest influenceâ Cage The Elephant. In 2019, he formed Los Saints with Emiliano, envisioning âmusic almost everyone from any background can vibe with.â
In honor of their heritage, the group chose the moniker Los Saints.
âWe were thinking of the Day of the Dead in Mexico, and its primary representation is a skull,â he goes on. âWe needed to make it our own, so we turned it into âSpanglishâ by choosing âLos Saintsâ. Like the music, itâs a mixture.â
Los Saints initially gained traction with the ‘Welcome To Confusion’ EP in 2022. The Honey Pop christened them âyour next indie obsession,â while San Diego Union Tribune pondered, âCould Los Saints be Chula Vistaâs version of Cage the Elephant?â Building on this momentum, the three-piece hit the studio with producer Keith Cooper (Dear Boy) and brought ‘Certified’ to life during sessions at Wildflower Recordings in L.A. The first single and opener âFadedâ hinges on a bold bass line and a punchy drum groove. Guitars glow beneath a hazy and hypnotic vocal plea, âI donât want you to look at me when youâre faded?â
On âNever Said,â a loose chime-y riff pierces a disco-style beat as falsetto rings out on the refrain.
âIâm not a dating app kind of dude,â he admits. âIâm a cave dweller, but I think so many kids my age can identify with these experiences of modern dating. On the first half of the song, youâre going into online dating with genuine intentions and looking for something true. The second half is the aftermath where reality hits, and your view changes. You realize all that glitters isnât gold.â
Evocative of yet another dynamic, glitchy keys wrap around breezy acoustic guitar on the somberly nostalgic âIf Everything Goes.â He sighs, âDonât call me back, even though Iâd like you to.â
âI was beating myself up for the way I am and how it affects romantic relationships,â he continues. âThis person left your life, but you canât help but blame yourself. Even though it was going to happen either way, you just think youâre the problem.â
Elsewhere, âDoctorâ conjures âdark imagery of being interrogated like in a movieâ via breathy lyrics and an off-kilter soundscape. Then, thereâs âHard.â Raw emotion seeps through the cracks in the vocals as thick distortion buoys the hook, âHelp me see again who you are.â
âItâs about how being in a toxic situationâeither romantically or with friendsâhas affected me and brought me down,â he states.
The title track âCertifiedâ culminates on a chantable chorus awash in shoegaze distortion. Stretching to a soaring climax, it evokes the feeling of âbeing isolated because youâre in a relationship that your friends and family donât approve of.â
In the end, Los Saints bring the kind of emotion that bonds us together to the surface.
âWhen you listen to us, I hope you find our art to be a place of comfort,â Mariscal leaves off. âSometimes, I cry when I write. Iâm always trying to come up with songs you can connect to so you donât feel alone. The world is a tough place. We can be friends one way or another.â
Following the recording of ‘Certified’, Los Saints has grown into a four-piece, with the addition of new members, Greg Ortega [bass] and Jorge Vazquez [lead guitarist].