New York band Crate sign to Good English Records and announce self-titled debut album

Formed by songwriters Cody Hudgins and Ezra Engler, as well as guitarist Henry Smith and drummer Juan Angulo, Crate spent three years working on what would become Crate. "Not My Song (Mine to Keep)" arrives as the first preview of the songs, offering a vulnerable expression of anxiety and helplessness in relationships by Hudgins.

"This song sort of has two separate meanings," he explains. "The chorus is about me dealing with getting anxiety every time I smoke weed. The verse, though, is about a relationship I had before moving to New York about 5 years ago and is more emotional for sure. There's some feelings of helplessness and loving someone so much but realizing that you may not be able to help them in their journey of finding themselves."

"It used to be a lot heavier and louder but we decided one day to turn it around and make it a lot slower and softer which I love," he adds. "It's probably my favorite song on the album."

Crate is comprised of eleven tracks that came together across Brooklyn apartments and practice spaces, before ultimately being completed at Ethan Williams of Shower Curtain's studio in Queens. Produced and mixed by Hudgins alongside TJ Freda of Gift, the album leans into love and change, with Hudgins and Engler trading off songwriting duties.

"Lyrically, the album as a whole is diaristic, a reflection of lived experiences between Cody and Ezra," says Angulo says. "Whether it's the melody, the transitions, or the arrangement, we channeled these feelings into each part of the songs. It's a time capsule of our last three years as a band, all wrapped up in a sonic bow."

"Crate, as an entity, doesn't really need to be anywhere or say anything, but we do say things," the band share. "We're pretty nonchalant when it comes to being outward about this project. We like it this way. We just want to make music and make people happy, mostly our friends at the moment, but that can change, and would be cool if it does.”

Crate artwork

Crate tracklist

"The Night Before"
"Over Before The Start"
"Necklace"
"Not My Song (Mine to Keep)"
"Not My Outro"
"I Don't"
"Julia"
"Watch You Turn"
"Double Stitch"
"Crate Theme"
"Crushed to Nothing"