Of Mice & Men’s Aaron Pauley recently discussed the band’s experimental approach with their song “Wake Up.” He explained how the track represents a departure into shoegaze territory for the group in an interview with Loudwire.
The conversation centered around the band’s creative process and how “Wake Up” came to be part of their new album. When asked about the song’s shoegazy sound and how it fits within Of Mice & Men’s musical identity, Pauley provided insight into the track’s origins.
“I think we’ve sort of dabbled in it in some songs in the past, but nothing to the extent where it’s kind of an, homage, you know? I’ve always said that it’s sort of an homage to like ’90s alternative and shoegazy and I think everything that you just said is accurate,” Pauley said.
He explained the collaborative process behind the song’s development. He credited drummer Tino Arteaga with the initial concept.
“It started off as a demo that our drummer, Tino [Arteaga], had actually like put together himself and then put in the Dropbox. One thing that we do when we’re starting records is we’ll all throw things that we’ve been working on independently into a Dropbox where we can all listen on a Zoom call with each other and then everything that sort of excites everybody collectively ends up in another folder so it’s sort of just like mining for gold we’re just sifting on, so that’s the first round of sifting,” he continued.
Despite initial uncertainty about the track’s fit within the band’s sound, Pauley was determined to make it work.
“He felt initially like maybe this wasn’t going to fit with Of Mice and that maybe it’s just a really cool-sounding instrumental, but I was like pretty adamant about wanting to use it and figure it out, so I had him send me the stems for it and we built it from [there],” Pauley explained. “I think what he sent over initially was like a minute and a half or two minutes, just sort of like verse and chorus loop, but it just hit me right in the nostalgia feels. It reminded me of everything that I loved about metal and hard rock and alternative and everything about that feeling. That was one where I was pretty adamant about using it and I think it came out awesome, so it’s cool that the fans are digging it too.”
This creative risk-taking reflects the band’s broader approach to their latest musical chapter. It showcases their willingness to explore new sonic territories while maintaining their core identity.
“Wake Up” appears on the band’s ninth studio album “Another Miracle.” The album represents a significant milestone in their creative evolution. Blunt Magazine reported that the band wrote, engineered, and self-produced the entire album. Pauley took on additional responsibilities for mixing and mastering. This level of creative control allowed the group to fully realize their artistic vision without external constraints.
The album’s development process emphasized melodicism as a core focus. This marked a deliberate evolution in the band’s songwriting approach. Blunt Magazine noted that this emphasis on melody represents a conscious shift in how the band approaches composition. It allows them to explore different musical landscapes while maintaining their signature sound.
Pauley’s expanded role within the band has been instrumental in this creative growth. Broken Static revealed that Pauley’s responsibilities have grown from bass and clean vocals to full frontman duties following lineup changes. This helped steer the band’s evolution from their raw metalcore roots since joining in 2009.
The band’s willingness to experiment with genres like shoegaze demonstrates their commitment to artistic growth while respecting their established fanbase. This balance between innovation and familiarity has become a defining characteristic of Of Mice & Men’s approach to creating music. It allows them to push boundaries while maintaining the emotional connection that has defined their career.
