Nova Scotia’s band of emotional rockers in Customer Service are set to debut their long awaited third EP if you’re here, you must be fine this month and we’re hyped to be premiering their second single “Picture This.”

So picture this (pun intended). It’s the early 2000s and the third wave of emo bands have started incorporating a lot more melody, taking less from its origin points of hardcore and leaning more towards the palatable and radio friendly stylings of pop punk. A time where the world called anything and everything “emo” and I happily ruled the entire world (in my head). In those days, MySpace and pirating music gave music industry consumerism back to the actual consumers.

Now… somehow… Customer Service has put me through a time machine of nostalgia yet again with this new track and upcoming EP but I’m starting to feel the age gap close as the members and their sound both mature into the next phase of their journey.

While this release, and their sophomore release before it, still encapsulate the care free fun and youthful joy that the band is well known for, the sound has progressed away from the cliches and tropes they came out of the gate with, this evolution of sound shows more depth, and as a day one fan who discovered Customer Service through online rumblings of Reddit users, listening to this new release has got me feeling like an old parent watching my kids grow up too darn fast.

“Picture This” showcases a step in their new direction with some new techniques as a spoken word ranted monologue hits near the end of the track and a quaint little saxophone line as well. Call and answer vocal patterns overlap and layer up the outro of the song bringing out a nostalgic third wave emo classic (heavily influenced by the GOATs in Taking Back Sunday who immortalized the call and answer vocal style). The entire song and new EP is such a far cry from their previous material and I am here for it.

“We definitely feel like this record is a bit more mature. All of our choices, arrangement wise, feel just a bit smarter then the last two releases. The songs almost feel like they have more sections and parts than they previously did but simultaneously are also shorter and way more to the point,” the band tells us. While Customer Service proudly remain a Midwest emo band with DIY ethos, it seems I was right in my initial assumption that this change in sound was very intentional and I look forward to watching their fanbase grow outside of their beginners circles with this coming of age soundtrack.

“I feel like we actively tried to distance ourselves a bit from the typical generic midwest emo tropes which are all over our first release. Not to say they aren’t present but they definitely feel toned down. Songs like ‘Picture This’, ‘With Friends like These’, and ‘Riley 2’ aren’t inherently down-bad romance songs which is a big change for us when you consider the content of our first EP Live More Forever.”

“I MEAN FOR US THIS IS THE MOST CONTENT WE’VE EVER BEEN WITH A RELEASE OF OURS. THE SONGS REALLY SOUND LIKE THE SOUND WE’VE BEEN CHASING ALL THIS TIME.”

“IN OUR OPINION THE NEW SOUND FEELS UNIQUE IN THE SPACE OF EMO AS OPPOSED TO OUR PAST RELEASES ON WHICH WE DEFINETLY WORE OUR INFLUENCES PROUDLY ON OUR SLEEVES.”

- CUSTOMER SERVICE, @CUSTOMERSERVICE.CA

“Being in a band changed our lives. it’s given us friends all over the country, a sense of purpose, connection to a community, and a way to express ourselves as individuals and a group!”

“Whether it’s through touring or releasing music, our biggest hope is always to encourage other people (and especially people from Halifax) to start a band, tour and help keep this world of DIY we all love so much alive.” So in terms of what’s next on the agenda for the gang it’s still all starry eyes, more tunes and more shows, tour, tour, tour. “We want to tour a lot more and tour everywhere. Getting to Europe is our biggest goal right now! After that we’re excited to finally tackle writing a full length LP.”

Royal Mountain Records have two vinyl variants of the EP and the pre order link is already live so click that link and grab a copy. “Shout out Conor who is our biggest fan and ultimate homie.” Gizzmoix Records (based out of Germany) will also be helping with European distro. Grab ‘em on pre order while ya can as if you’re here, you must be fine is set to debut on October 31st.

Customer Service is Matt Cheverie on vocals, Max Hayden on lead guitar, Nick Adams on bass and Owen Harris on drums.

Pre-order the new EP here : Royal Mountain

Writer : @just_reidz

Editor : @garevthistle

10/06/25

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Customer Service

“I MEAN FOR US THIS IS THE MOST CONTENT WE’VE EVER BEEN WITH A RELEASE OF OURS. THE SONGS REALLY SOUND LIKE THE SOUND WE’VE BEEN CHASING ALL THIS TIME.”

“IN OUR OPINION THE NEW SOUND FEELS UNIQUE IN THE SPACE OF EMO AS OPPOSED TO OUR PAST RELEASES ON WHICH WE DEFINETLY WORE OUR INFLUENCES PROUDLY ON OUR SLEEVES.”

- CUSTOMER SERVICE, @CUSTOMERSERVICE.CA

Tobias Vokes

NOT JUST A PHASE