Frontman Fraser Simpson recalls the real-life inspiration:
"Summer 2022 we were sailing down the interstate heading from Houston, Texas, to Austin when all of a sudden the worst thing happened - no brakes. I was driving at the time and so to not create
panic, I didn't mention our predicament to the rest of the guys until I managed to grind the van to a halt with what brake fluid we had left. What happened next was a week of being stranded in
Austin (s/o Rare Bloom for letting us crash) while we waited for an out of stock part to arrive to fix our van.
The mechanic then said our vehicle was so rusted he wouldn't advise driving 50 yards down the street, we cancelled shows, we ran out of money, we considered flying home. The poignant lyric "Nothing ever goes our way" repeats throughout the song because honestly, nothing has ever gone our way. But here we are, back again, doing the thing we love because we're young and dumb and would like another excuse to get in a van and tour the continent. To quote another line from the song: "Nothing like a little bit of latent fear, of dying young and dumb without my loved ones near" - sign us up!"
“No Brakes” was produced, engineered, and mixed by Tim Creviston (Spiritbox, Youth Fountain) and mastered by Stu McKillop (Midnight Peg, By A Thread) at Rain City Recorders, capturing the band’s signature mix of urgency, grit, and bittersweet honesty. Over the years, they’ve released acclaimed records, toured extensively across North America and beyond, and carved out a loyal global fanbase. With “No Brakes,” Chief State prove once again that they’re at the forefront of modern pop-punk—louder, sharper, and hungrier than ever.
Watch the music video:
About Chief State
Hailing from Vancouver, BC, Chief State have built a reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting pop-punk exports. With a sound that blends the emo-tinged grit of The Story So Far with the urgency of Neck Deep, the band delivers heartfelt anthems packed with soaring melodies, pummeling rhythms, and unflinching honesty. Over the years, they’ve released acclaimed records, toured extensively across North America and beyond, and carved out a loyal global fanbase. With “No Brakes,” Chief State prove once again that they’re at the forefront of modern pop-punk—louder, sharper, and hungrier than ever.
