The New Cities have wrapped a busy summer with a new album and a major tour in the works. The Quebec based band made up of David Brown, Christian Bergeron, Nicolas Denis, Francis Fugere, Philippe Lachance, and Julien Martre released their second album Kill the Lights and announced a spot on Avril Lavigne’s Black Star Tour. An interview took place in downtown Toronto with Brown and Martre as the band reflected on the past year.
Brown described the feeling of the album release as really good, while Martre agreed that it felt awesome.
Since the last record, the group feels more mature. They wrote around thirty tracks over two and a half years and eventually narrowed the list to twelve, a process that yielded a lot of material and substance to draw from for the final release.
On the album titles, the band explained that Lost in City Lights marked a sense of discovery, while Kill the Lights makes a statement about the music industry. It signals an edge and a more purposeful direction, with tracks like Murder Me, Mugshot, and Love Me Deadly giving the record a sharper look and feel.
Is the band growing edgier The answer is yes and no. They say they have always carried an edge, both in the studio and on stage, and the new visuals reflect that with a bold color palette of blue and pink. The live shows have always been intense, authentic, and a little dangerous in spirit, which inspired the direction of the album art and overall vibe.
When asked about pruning thirty songs down to twelve, Julien explains it felt natural to keep the strongest cuts. The members compared their lists and found a lot of overlap, which made the choice straightforward. There was a moment when Mugshot was nearly cut, but the track proved its strength once fully produced, and the decision was made to keep it on the record.
The most ridiculous moment on tour involved a bee that buzzed onto the stage and chased Nick during a performance. It was a chaotic, funny moment that left the band laughing and relieved that no one was seriously hurt.
Brown recalls opening for Hedley on Crescent Street in Montreal during winter, wearing stylish cowhide boots. He jumped mid‑set, landed hard on his back, and his parents watched in disbelief. He stood up quickly, brushed it off, and joked that nobody seemed to notice the fall.
As for personal favorites, Julien is fond of The New Rule for its gritty, fun vibe, while Brown enjoys singing the low parts in the first verse and hitting higher notes in later sections. They both emphasize keeping vocal parts within a comfortable range so the performances feel natural.
The possibility of collaborations came up, with Katy Perry mentioned as a cool partner. Brown also admires Lights, joking about a Kill the Lights featuring Lights release that would never truly happen yet would be a fun nod to the idea.
3D videos on their YouTube channel emerged from a label suggestion and a playful shirt with 3D glasses. The band adopted a new camera capable of shooting in 3D and posted clips from shows and outings, including a visit to Canada’s Wonderland, bringing fans closer to their live energy.
Brainstorming for the next video is underway, but no concrete plan has been set yet.
From Quebec, the group has always prioritized English, but they also explored a French version of Mugshot to test bilingual appeal. The chorus remains in English while the verses and bridge are in French, creating an international feel without veering into a purely Quebecois sound.
Listening to the same song in English and French revealed subtle differences, with rock often sounding stronger in English. Yet the band focused on clear pronunciation so listeners from diverse backgrounds could follow along without difficulty.
In terms of translation and writing, the band worked closely together, with Julien leading the lines while the others helped shape delivery. It was a collaborative effort meant to sound natural in both languages and reflect the energy of the track.
Touring with Avril Lavigne is now a reality, and the band cannot wait to meet her. Being on the road remains the group’s favorite aspect of the business, and they look forward to the experiences ahead while staying dedicated to their craft and their fans.
Final thoughts on Kill the Lights encourage fans to explore the band’s 3D blog and to support the CD by purchasing it legally, a stance the group hopes fans will embrace.
Any concluding notes would point listeners to the band’s website for tour updates and to their YouTube channel for more 3D videos, which capture moments from the road and the studio for a behind‑the‑scenes look at this evolving project.
(citation: The New Cities official YouTube channel)