States & Capitals, a rock band from Wyckoff, NJ, have released their debut album The Feelings. It is available on all digital platforms. The band was founded in 2015 by 22-year old frontman, singer/songwriter Richie Arthur (Richard Arthur Schaafsma.) He cites a melting pot of musical references from rock and pop including John Mayer, The Night Game, and All Time Low. Arthurhas been creating and performing music since the tender age of 7, cutting his musical teeth at the renowned School of Rock in his home state of New Jersey.
“I started out with all the huge eighties turn up the gain type bands at first which really created the path to discovering my love for playing music. Once I developed to writing and really focusing on the artistry, I found myself falling in love with the songwriting side of music rather than specific genres or groups - anything Mayer touches, Martin Johnson, Alex Gaskarth, really paved the way to where i’m at now”
The debut Album follows three EP releases including the most recent CREATIONS&MEMORIES featuring the single, 'Drive' that premiered on Spotify’s “It's ALT Good!” and “The Scene” playlists. The EP was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with producer, Jonathan Roye (Owl City, Kelsea Ballerini, Forever The Sickest Kids).
In support of last year's release, the band set out on the two-leg, cross-country 'CREATIONS&MEMORIES Tour' including slots on Vans Warped Tour and Southwest Invasion. In December 2018 Arthur embarked on 'The West Coast Tour' and 'The East Coast Tour', playing acoustic sets throughout California and parts of the east coast ending up this past spring. States & Capitals is currently on tour through the end of June (Dates below.)
"It’s a long time coming for me, absolute favorite thing in the world is touring. I had years of dreaming and wanting it and really took the time to prep and make sure it’s done the right way and it feels nice seeing how it evolved. You hit cities with one expectation and they completely surprise you, kids knowing the tunes in places you’ve never been, it’s pretty surreal knowing this is only the start” -Richie Arthur.
In the spring of this year, the band posted a series of clips on social media titled ‘5319’, leading up to the release of the single, 'Feelings' on May 3rd. The track is primarily a pop rock song with influences of 80s pop music in its production. The song begins with a simplistic guitar riff and a big arena rock beat that sits over a dynamic, straight to the point pop track. Lead vocalist Richie Arthur’s vocals start hard and reach a powerful and anthemic sound entering the chorus. Lyrically, the song captures the idea of somebody falling in love for the very first time, accepting the flaws that may come with that. 'Feelings' is "about accepting somebody who may not know how to react on or in a relationship quite yet, and trying to help guide that person through a brand new world of emotions," according to Arthur.
