The Penguin Rocks logo
The Penguin Rocks Menu



 

Chief State Releases Debut Full-Length Album, "Waiting For Your Colours"

originally published: 07/03/2022

Vancouver, BC pop-punks Chief State have released their debut full-length 'Waiting For Your Colours.' The follow-up to the band's 2021 stand-alone single "Metaphors" and 2020 breakthrough EP 'Tough Love,' 'Waiting For Your Colours' is the culmination of 5 years of relentless hustle (not to mention a boatload of blood, sweat, and tears).

The journey to get here began with frontman Fraser Simpson, who at an impasse in his life, decided on a whim to leave his home in the UK for Japan in 2014 and eventually move to North America to form a band via Craigslist, where he connected with Nik Pang, Chloe Kavanagh, Justin Pham and Joseph Soderholm to create Chief State.

Uncertainty, longing, a search for meaning, and assessing life choices make up the themes on the new album, which chronicles closing out your 20s at a crossroads and examining where we belong, our place in the world, and allowing ourselves the time to figure it all out.

Simpson says, "There’s definitely a coming of age theme on the new album. We're asking ourselves: What am I looking to get out of life, out of being in a band? What joys do I want to pursue and where do I want to place my energy moving forward? We've come to the realization that we all need to stress less on the things we can’t control and enjoy more of what we have, what we can control and the journey itself."

Collectively the band members spent their young adult lives struggling mentally, emotionally and financially, in pursuit of their dreams, but the grind appears to have paid off, as Chief State is now on the cusp of something great! With an ever-growing legion of fans in their corner, a reputation for stellar live shows, and a new album's worth of kickass songs in their arsenal, 2022 is shaping up to be a great year for the band.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage




 

COLUMNS


Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 04/02/2026

"Yeah, we are looking forward to it," said guitarist Johnny A of The Johnny A Trio just prior to their recent New York City Iridium appearance.




This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from March 31 to April 6, 2026




​​​​​​​Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Tom Seaver" by Greg Amici




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 03/26/2026





 
Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info




 

MORE NEWS

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Five-time GRAMMY Award winner Angélique Kidjo comes to McCarter Theatre Center on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:30pm for an electrifying evening of music spanning her extraordinary career. The performance is part of a limited six-city U.S. tour before Kidjo continues to Europe for a series of international festival appearances.


State Theatre New Jersey presents '60s Rock 'n Roll Revival




Ocean Casino Resort presents UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell




"The Master at Work" Jimmy Webb LIVE! at The Vogel




The Stone Pony presents Glen Hansard on April 11th






 

UPCOMING SHOWS


State Theatre New Jersey presents The Sound Studio Series 2026

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey proudly presents The Sound Studio Series, an immersive musical experience that places concertgoers at the very heart of the performance. Held in STNJ's intimate Studio space, limited to just 80 attendees, The Sound Studio Series features a dynamic mix of both classical and rock performances. Each concert concludes with an exclusive post-show meet-and-greet with the artists, offering fans a rare opportunity to connect directly with the performers. Tickets for the series are $20-$30.


The Folk Project's Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series presents Mike Block Trio and Lynne Hanson




Roy's Hall presents James McMurtry




State Theatre New Jersey presents Yellow Brick Joel: The Tribute Concert—Elton John & Billy Joel






Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info




The Penguin Rocks

© 2026 by Wine Time Media, LLC
PO Box 811, Belmar, NJ 07719
[email protected]

Presented by New Jersey Stage

Images used on this site have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us and we will look into the matter.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our NJ Stage accounts on Instagram, and Threads


News | Features | Radio Shows | Penguin's Hall of Fame | Song of the Week | BlowUpRadio column

Contact Us | About Us | Submit Music | Ad Rates