Song of the Day: Born Ruffians - We Made It

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “We Made It” by Born Ruffians from the 2015 album RUFF, on Yep Roc Records.

Born Ruffians - We Made It (MP3)

It goes without saying that Born Ruffians have made it. Since forming in 2004, the Ontario-based band have built a reputation on their sharp, new wave-inspired, wiry rock. On their fourth and latest full-length RUFF, they expand on their energetic post-punk dynamics, bringing the manic yelp of frontman Luke LaLonde into the forefront.

In an interview with MySpace, LaLonde explains the tongue-in-cheek message behind today's Song of the Day: "It's all supposed to be a bit intentionally cheesy, but at the same time that's the way I and a lot of people feel. Maybe I'm singing to my generation or something. I think a lot of people in my age group can identify with that – you feel like you've been promised this thing, and you never really feel you're achieving it... It's another version of that same thesis of relating my experience in this band – you're always feeling you're chasing something down and you're going to make it there, but you never really make it. But that's the meaning of life, I guess. For me, when I'm slipping into sadness, a lot of times I find happiness by faking it until I get there. Literally smile. Fake something good until you make it. It does work. If you're having a shitty day – for me, having a shitty night on-stage – I can turn it around. It's all perception. You can decide not to have that shitty time. You're doing it to yourself. It's something I think about a lot."

No tour dates yet, but keep up with the band on Twitter and Facebook to be among the first to know. Check out a video for the track below, which the band explain in a press release is "a treasure hunt of sorts - the narrative is non-linear and demented, but as the months progress and we release more content, the meaning and interpretation of this video changes."