Closer by The Way East
The Way East’s new single Closer takes all the pop-rock hooks of High School Locker and pairs them with sharp lyrics about gossip, drama, and knowing when to walk away.
The Way East’s debut single High School Locker made a strong first impression, spending ten weeks on the East Coast Top 30 and climbing as high as #12. Their follow-up, Closer, shows the band isn’t slowing down. Built on the same pop-rock energy, it’s catchy — full of riffs and rhythms that will make you want to hit replay.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Krisjan Leslie, with additional production by Chris Hibbs, Closer is polished but still carries the authentic edge of a band enjoying themselves in the studio.
On the surface, Closer it’s an upbeat rocker with the same hook-laden feel that made High School Locker stick. But lyrically, it explores new territory. Inspired by the saying “Half of what you see, none of what you hear,” the track deals with gossip and half-truths, and how people shape versions of events to suit themselves until everything boil over into noise. For me, the song struck that balance between a fun listen and something to think about
The band began in the summer of 2022, founded by guitarist and songwriter Christopher Hibbs (Marceno, The Arbiters) and bassist/vocalist Dylan Billard. With drummer Stephen Martin, they carved out a sound blending indie and prog rock into something distinctively their own. A recent lineup change saw Hibbs step into the role of frontman, guiding the group forward as a three-piece. Earlier this year, a grant allowed them back into the studio to record their first EP Broken Memories, which is due this fall.
I’m obsessed with music from Newfoundland and Labrador…
It’s fresh, wild, and full of surprises. The artists here are pumping out so much new stuff, it’s hard to keep up. So, I started a playlist of my faves—tons of genres, but the only rule is they’re local and totally repeat-worthy. I update it regularly, so follow along (on Spotify, Apple Music or Youtube).
Trust me, there’s a ton of good stuff coming your way.
