Photo Credit: Nick Fancher

Pop Evil, the rockers from Michigan, dropped their latest album, Skeletons, earlier this month, precisely on March 17th. We caught up with vocalist Leigh Kakaty to chat about their newest record.

What was the recording process like for the new album, Skeletons?

It was different considering we had so much off time due to the pandemic. We weren’t able to tour so we took advantage of the downtime and focused on writing and making this album the best Pop Evil album we had ever written. It was nice to be able to take our time and create the best songs we felt fit this album. We were having a lot of fun because we weren’t so stressed to get back on the road.  

What was it like to collaborate with Fit For A King’s Ryan Kirby on “Dead Reckoning?”

It was awesome! Ryan is such an incredible vocalist and he just crushed on this song. The song was created pretty quickly actually. Once we finished it, we sent it over to Kirby and he wrote his parts in a day. Once we heard it, it only took one listen and we knew it was special. It had so much energy and we were stoked for our fans to hear it. We can’t wait to add this song to our live show.  

What was the experience like creating the video for “Paranoid (Crash & Burn)?”

The experience of shooting the video for our song “Paranoid (Crash and Burn)” was exhausting. It went from 9AM to around 5AM the next morning so it was a long grueling day of filming but it was totally worth it. All our videos take a lot of work but when they are done it’s great to see it all come together. This one turned out so amazing it feels like a movie. Our director, Jensen Noen did such a good job on it that we can’t wait to team up with him again in the future.  

Which track from the new album are you most excited for fans to hear and why?

All of them. We spent so much time on making the best album we could, we want our fans to be able to listen to it from start to finish without skipping any songs. Each song is important in its own way. It’s up to the listeners to decide what songs are most suited for them.  

What song was the most challenging to write?

They all had their moments but I feel like “Eye of the Storm” was the most difficult because it was the first single off this album and we wanted it to be perfect. The first one starts it all off so you definitely feel the pressure in all kinds of ways.  

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Pop Evil’s third album, Onyx. Do you have any memories you can share about recording this record and how the band has evolved since?

Crazy right, such a cool accomplishment. I can’t believe it’s been ten years already.  Feels like yesterday I was recording the vocals to “Torn to Pieces,” and “Trenches.” I just remember the excitement we all had just before it was released. We recorded the album in Chicago with Johnny K and made so many great memories together. I remember being in the studio cutting vocals and roaming all over the city in between sessions. I remember one of our cars getting broken into, lol. Lots of late nights and cups of coffee finishing this one. Honored to be a part of it.  

Is there anything else you want to say or add about the new album?

Thank you to all our fans new and old for sticking with us through the years. Here’s to the next chapter!