Austin-based band Culture Wars inject honesty, urgency, and unfiltered emotion into their latest single “Typical Ways.” The rock anthem sees frontman Alex Dugan turning the mirror on himself, confronting past mistakes with raw vulnerability and a fire that can’t be faked. Born from a rough patch post-breakup, the track started as an “angry letter” to his former self, but thanks to its eruptive chorus and on-the-road evolution, it’s become a cathartic breakthrough moment for the band.
Having just lit up stadiums with LANY and played a triumphant set in Taiwan, Culture Wars are building serious momentum ahead of their 2025 full-length. With cinematic visuals inspired by Trainspotting and a sonic palette that balances grit with grandeur, Culture Wars are proving that modern rock still has something to say, and plenty of ways to say it!
Congratulations on the release of your new single! You’ve called “Typical Ways” an angry letter to your past self, what exactly were you confronting or trying to let go of when you wrote it?
I was stuck in a not so great place coming out of a break up. I wasn’t taking care of myself properly and it was time to start making some changes to get my life back on track. The lyrics changed a handful of times, but I think the final sits in a better place, as they’re more vulnerable and less “trying to sound cool” from the original if that makes sense.
Do you see “Typical Ways” as a moment of closure, or is it more of a middle chapter in your personal evolution?
I would say it’s more of a beginning. Digging myself out of the hole and since then, I’m living my life different from now on. It was also one of the first songs written for the album so chronologically it works out the same.
Let’s talk about that massive chorus. Was it always written to be a stadium anthem, or did it just evolve into one naturally?
It originally wasn’t even going to make it on the album… it became what it is because we tested it out on tour in stadiums with LANY. It wasn’t until we heard the substantially louder reaction from the crowd, that we realized what it could be.
There’s a sense of duality running through your work, anger and vulnerability, chaos and control. How do you manage to balance those clashing energies in the studio?
Sounds wanky but I had an art history class in school that always spoke of “chiaroscuro”, the light to dark contrast within paintings. I kind of interpreted that into what we do, that all good work has a light and dark to it, a balance. I would imagine that’s where a lot of that comes from (at least on my end). In terms of the energies in the studio, finding the right direction for the music despite the contrast is the entirety of the strength of the band. It would be easier if we just agreed on everything all the time, but it would probably make for worse music.
If “Typical Ways” had a visual moodboard (colors, textures, films, moods), what would be on it?
The song I don’t think had any of that, but the video was definitely inspired by Berghain mixed with Trainspotting… mixed with my obsession for always needing an accessible toilet.
You just supported LANY in Taiwan. How did it go and how did the crowd react compared to what you’re used to in the States?
Great show. We love coming to Kaohsiung and we love playing with LANY. Easy. Crowd was great. The US audiences in general can be a bit passive, a bit entitled. In the rest of the world, you can feel the energy, the excitement. They genuinely want to hear new music and discover new bands.
You’ve also had the pleasure to tour with Keane, Maroon 5 and The Script. Do you have any fun stories from any of those tours that you’d like to share?
Keane was a fun one because we’ve always looked up to that band growing up. When we got to the first hotel in Mexico, the military was out front which we found odd. We later found out it was because Shakira was also there in town for a show and was staying on our floor lol
You have an album slated for later this year. Can you give us any insight into what we can expect?
7 more songs. Some of them very new (still recording). The best is yet to come.
What else is coming up for Culture Wars?
Coming to the UK ASAP.
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Words: Alexander Williams