Rising indie rock band Names Without Numbers have returned with a powerful new single that perfectly encapsulates the frantic pace of modern life. Titled “Ping Pong Ball in a Concrete Room”, the track dives deep into the feeling of constantly chasing time, something that vocalist and guitarist Ryan Cruickshank expresses with raw emotion resonating with anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the relentless demands of daily life. This acts as the follow-up to their previous single “Box Fort Kingdom”.
Written by Dave Owens, Jason Blayney, Joel Schlegelmilch, and Ryan Cruickshank, whilst it has been produced, recorded, and mixed by Joshua Barber, “Ping Pong Ball in a Concrete Room” is a strong guitar-driven rock track that expertly blends emotional gritty lyrics with awesome guitar and drum segments.
Cruickshank impresses vocally as he delves deep to make sure the listeners feel every single word. Intensely relatable and irresistibly catchy, the band effortlessly emphasises the meaning of the song and making sure we all know that though life may often feel overwhelming, we’re not alone in the struggle.
In explaining the song’s theme, Cruickshank shared, “This song is about the frenetic pace of life. Sometimes it feels like things are moving way too fast to stay on top of all your responsibilities. The only thing you can do is keep moving forward.”
This single is the second release from the band’s forthcoming EP, “We Create Reality”, set to drop on September 27, 2024. Their first single from this EP was “Box Fort Kingdom”. Both tracks have gone on to become the band’s most popular tracks on Spotify, so we expect the entire EP is set to follow suit,
“‘We Create Reality’ is our first release fully written and recorded in the post-COVID world,” says the band in a joint statement. “In most ways, life has gone back to the way it was prior to the pandemic, but many of us now have a different worldview — a lingering, shared PTSD that we all incurred from such a disruptive societal event.”
They continued by saying, “It’s given some of us a yearning to go back into quarantine, where things were more focused and peaceful; to identify our daily grind as the never-ending rat-race it has become. That experience gave a lot of us the confidence and the motivation to rediscover who we are and buck against the constraints we were under, while simultaneously deepening our appreciation for what we now look back on as ‘the good old days’. This collection of songs reflects all of those conflicting feelings.”
Names Without Numbers are a four-piece band, who were originally formed in Omaha, Nebraska, and they’ve gone through line-up changes over the years. Consisting of Ryan Cruickshank (vocals, guitar), Dave Owens (guitar, vocals), Joel Schlegelmilch (bass), and Nick Evans (drums), Names Without Numbers are transitioning from their pop-punk beginnings to a more mature, emotionally charged rock sound. Over the years, they’ve refined their style, drawing comparisons to bands like Jimmy Eat World and Anberlin, while also carving out their own unique space in the indie-power-pop scene. Their music is characterised by guitar-driven melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and catchy hooks, making them a standout in today’s rock landscape.
As the band prepares to release “We Create Reality”, “Ping Pong Ball in a Concrete Room” serves as a powerful reminder that even in the chaos of life, music has the power to connect us, offering both solace and solidarity.
“Ping Pong Ball in a Concrete Room”, by Names Without Numbers, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via Fair Vaux. Their forthcoming EP, “We Create Reality”, is set to be released next month on September 27, 2024.