da nang Capture the Joy and Heartbreak of Growing Up on Nostalgic Kids EP, Helmed by Bittersweet Title Track
Toronto emo/alt-rock trio da nang return with Kids, a nostalgic, sun-soaked EP about the messy intersections of love, loss, heartbreak, and joy. Anchoring the record is title track “Kids,” a bittersweet anthem that celebrates the rush of young love while staring down the heartbreak it’s destined to bring.
da nang’s Kids EP plays like a scrapbook of adolescence, with songs that hang together like faded Polaroids – warm, raw, and brimming with emotion. From cottage recording sessions surrounded by worn furniture and summer air, to riffs that grew into full-fledged songs almost by accident, the band leaned fully into nostalgia in both sound and spirit.
“The title track is about being in love when you’re young, knowing it’s probably going to blow up but going all in anyway,” says frontman John Thai. “It’s grief dressed up in sunshine – holding someone close while everything feels like it could collapse at any second.”
Musically, “Kids” blends bright, celebratory guitar riffs with an undercurrent of melancholy, creating a tension that perfectly captures the feeling of teenage heartbreak. The song pulls you into the past with the raw intensity of first love, while its production – meant to feel like a hot summer drive with the windows down – grounds it in the nostalgia that defines the entire EP.
Formed by John Thai (vocals), Calum Shaw (bass), and Sean Leckie (drums), da nang thrive on contrasts – queer and straight, raw and polished, sad and joyful. The band’s name nods to John’s Vietnamese roots and his journey from closeted small-town kid to songwriter unafraid of turning unspoken experiences into music.
With Kids, da nang delivers an instinctive, heartfelt snapshot of youth’s chaos and beauty – an EP that feels both like looking back and living right in the moment.
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