Julian Chawla of Stay Here Talks New Single "God's Gift" and Songwriting

Stay Here is a name you’ll see scattered across flyers and Instagram carousels across Atlanta, Georgia. They’ve been a fan favorite in the pop punk scene, selling out shows at 150-cap venues like Bon House and opening for iconic bands like The Fray and The Spill Canvas.

We sat down with one of Stay Here’s guitarists and vocalists, Julian. He is an unassuming driving force behind the band’s sound and direction – the frontman behind the frontman.

They released a new single on October 9th, 2024 titled “God’s Gift”. For a band that casually admits they “take ages to put out music” it’s something to celebrate when they do. “God’s Gift” will also be on an upcoming EP that’s slated to be released in 2025.

Their last single “Prove Me Wrong” was released earlier this year. The lyrics display a distinct cleverness without taking themselves too seriously.

There’s a charming ability to point fingers without coming off as cruel thanks to the playful, snarky nature of Parker’s vocals, reminiscent of iconic predecessors like Relient K and Cute is What We Aim for.

How does “God’s Gift” differ from what Stay Here has released in the past?

Julian: This song crosses new sonic territory for us. We usually dance around major keys and try to make pleasant songs, but we wanted to add dissonance and create an uneasy feeling with the music.

Are there any special moments we should listen for?

Julian: I’m very happy with how the vocals sound throughout the song. Parker killed those takes. But, I would say a special moment is in the verses where we use a chord progression that’s very different from our usual.

How was the songwriting process for this song specifically?

Julian: I wrote the vocal melodies and cadences for “God’s Gift” and Parker wrote the lyrics.

Julian: The lyrics in this song refer to a personal experience and are about specific experiences and events. In other songs, I think we write the lyrics to be more open for interpretation.

You’ve been involved in the local Atlanta indie scene for almost a decade and have been part of several projects, most recently playing with BG.FM and Silly Goose. How has your experience with them influenced you musically?

Julian: Playing with other bands has definitely made me a better guitar player and songwriter. I’m sure there’s influence from other bands I’ve played with in “God’s Gift”.

Where does this fit into the band's plan for the next year? What else is coming for Stay Here?

Julian: We have a show on November 23rd in Jacksonville, FL with Heaven Moto, Hotline TNT, Palomino Blond, and more that we are very hyped on.

Julian: The full EP is coming out in 2025. Honestly, for 2025 – I hope Stay Here can tour again. We’d like to play more out of state shows and continue pushing the boundaries on new music.

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