The Winter Sloths Connect on the Raw and Reflective New Single “90’s Kid” and Reveal the Story Behind the Song
- STAFF
- Aug 23
- 7 min read
By: Staff
“90’s Kid” is a stunning anthem that fuses nostalgia and modern alt-rock into something unforgettable.
The Winter Sloths are back with their electrifying new single, “90’s Kid,” a raw and introspective anthem that blends grunge, alt-rock, and the unmistakable energy of the '90s.
With soaring guitars, pulsing basslines, and vocals that cut through with a mix of grit and emotion, this track isn’t just a song, it’s a time capsule that propels you through a whirlwind of nostalgia and self-discovery.
We spoke with the band to dive into the meaning behind this explosive track, which explores the emotional complexity of growing up in a fast-paced world. As the track moves between analog memories and the digital age, we explored how these themes shaped their sound and the unique, fearless approach they’ve taken to their music. From the creative spark behind the song to the personal stories etched into every chord, “90’s Kid” is more than just a reflection on the past; it’s a statement of where they are now as artists and individuals.
In this candid conversation, the band opens up about their evolution, the influences that continue to drive them, and the deep connection between their music and the world that shaped it. Intrigued? You should be.
Keep reading for a deeper dive into what makes “90’s Kid” a song that will stay with you and become the nostalgia of tomorrow!
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello The Winter Sloths, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. The Winter Sloths' style and presentation were amazing with “90’s Kid.” The hard, grungy guitars, punchy drums, and fat, bass-driven foundation, combined with your slightly monotone yet emotionally charged vocals, had this song screaming "iconic" before the second half. We absolutely loved it. The band's sound is really unique, and it’s clear you've cultivated something distinct. Is this particular musical style something you've embraced from the very beginning, or has it evolved over time from influences or other genres you experimented with earlier?
A. The four of us that make up The Winter Sloths all have pretty different musical influences. If you listen to our other music you can hear those same influences appear in different ways. This particular sound is just one of the possible combinations that we are happy with.
Q. Can you tell us how you landed on the title of “90’s Kid?” Was it your first choice, or did it transform over time?
A. It was our first serious choice! We had a few very specific ideas that were too much of an inside joke, we were worried about spoiling any relatability until we landed on something we felt was big enough.
Q. What comes first when crafting a song like “90’s Kid”? Is it the music that sparks the vibe, or do the lyrics come first, setting the emotional tone for the track?
A. In this case it was music first. Todd was just messing around on his guitar at the start of a practice one day which ended up becoming the opening lick of the song and the rest flowed from there.
Q. Was there a particular conversation, moment, or situation that triggered the creation of “90’s Kid?” What was the catalyst for bringing this track to life, especially in such a poignant way?
A. We did an interview on a local podcast on the basement of the hosts home. The entire house was so jam packed filled with stuff from when this guy was a kid we felt like we were suffocating. The interview went well enough, but when we tried to leave the doorknob jammed and we were trapped in the little recording room continuing to be surrounded by these relics. We had to use a pocket knife to jimmy the door open and escape. We went back to our practice space after and wrote most of the parts for what would turn out to be 90's Kid while we were still buzzing from that weird experience.
Q. The track captures the tension between the past (like VHS tapes and cartoons) and a fast-moving modern world. How do you see the role of analog memories in today’s digital age? Do you think you had it hard then, or does this generation seem like the ones stuck on the rat wheel?
A. The things from our past are nice to revisit every so often, but it can become a trap. It invites us to stay stuck, to yell at kids on our lawn while the possibilities of today pass us by. Every generation has it hard in their own way, but ultimately people are looking for the same things, the desire to feel purpose and to make a meaningful difference in the world.
Q. You’ve said that the track is a love letter to the analog innocence of the '90s. What aspects of 90’s childhood are the most missed by you of all the mentioned moments?
A. My biggest problem back then was which Pokémon I could catch on my original Game Boy when I got home from school! Its easy to yearn for that kind of simplicity while we are asked to meet the modern standards of working class people in America.
Q. “90’s Kid” seems to invite listeners into a deeper conversation about self and society. What kind of dialogue do you want to spark around it, more lighthearted like what games were the best, or more deeper thoughts?
A. Both are fun, but I think it's more important to have the deeper conversations about the role of nostalgia in your life...about finding the balance between appreciating where you came from and moving forward.
Q. When you write a song, do you feel more like you're chasing something or letting go of something? For example, is the song meant to chain you to that time, or is it more of a send-off, an acceptance of an end of an era?
A. That varies from song to song. In this case it is letting go of wishing for an easier time to keep our sights set forward.
Q. Do you visualize scenes or stories when you write? How much does the imagery guide your lyrics?
A. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but again that varies between songs. In this case the imagery of what we remember our childhoods to be like and how that can make us feel when reflecting on it today.
Q. Where does the magic of your music production begin? Do you kick things off in your home studio, or do you team up with an outside producer? When it’s time to wrap things up, do you handle the mixing and mastering yourself, or bring in someone to help perfect it?
A. Typically we will show up to our home practice/recording space with a skeleton of a song done, i.e. chords, lyrics, structure. From there the others will layer in their individual parts and we will come up with intro licks, synth fillers and bridges together. Our final products are full collaborations between all four of us. So far we have home-recorded all of our music and sent it off to the absolute legend Monty Dale at Mixed by Monty. He takes our basement recordings and makes them something really special, so you know he's the real deal!
Q. Do you have a go-to instrument that serves as the foundational starting point for your music, or does each band member have a “hey, check this out” moment that kickstarts a song?
A. Usually Todd's guitar and synth parts get us started, but we like to try to stay flexible to keep the writing process interesting and to see what kinds of different things we can make through different processes.
Q. What do you want “90’s Kid” to say about you as a band right now?
A. That we are a versatile band that has plenty of surprises and that we tell fun and relatable stories in our music.
Q. What's a cover song that you'd love to tackle in the studio today, either because it feels connected to who you are or because it played a role in shaping your career?
A. Oh man, just one?! Probably something like Pink Pony Club to see how we would do with an iconic pop hit. Or something like F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X. to test our technical skills.
Q. We’d love to dive deeper into the story behind your artist name, The Winter Sloths. Now that we’ve had a chance to experience your music, it’s clear that your fans will be equally curious about the meaning behind the name. How does The Winter Sloths connect to the music you create, what significance does it hold for you personally, and what is the origin or backstory behind the name?
A. It is Todd's favorite season and a friend's favorite animal. We went with silly and memorable, we felt like it was important to do something really unique to stand out while the music industry got more and more over saturated with music listening options.
Q. And finally, we can't thank you enough for sharing these intimate details! So, what's next? Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans should be excited about? We'd love to be the first to share the news!
A. We have one more single coming out 10/10 in the lead up to our debut album, set to release 12/6! We hope everyone will check out our releases so far and gets hyped for our debut album!
The Winter Sloths, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared The Winter Sloths’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
