Self Defense Family return with first new music in six years, “Reclusion”

The standalone single follows Self Defense Family’s 2018 album Have You Considered Punk Music, as well as a 2020 collection of archival songs, and a live album released over the past few years. For vocalist Patrick Kindlon — who also fronts Drug Church — the process of releasing new music has been somewhat stalled.

“I've been trying to write lyrics about family and animals instead of songs about being atomized and thinking everyone is crazy,” Kindlon explains. But it turns out even my love songs are about being atomized and thinking everyone is crazy. Call it a creative throughline, I guess.”

“We've been playing together forever, so meeting up to write and record some songs is just a natural thing that happens,” he adds. “We recorded last year, but I've been holding up the process. Typically I go into the studio and write while I record, and it's only ever about conveying a moment. But this time, I'm struggling with the idea of getting things ‘perfect” A silly idea. But some of these songs are about things I want to get right the first time. I've got a family I love, but everyone is dying on me. I'd like to have lyrics that do it all justice.”