Guide
Hello, there! ‘Simple Place’ tackles some really heavy themes about community breakdown and raising children in today’s world. What was the moment or experience that made you feel you had to write this song?
This song has been in the works for a very long time and I think its something that all of have felt and not really expressed out loud, you know?
So its not just about a certain experience, or moment in particular. But more about these issues, and violence everywhere you look 24/7.
Maybe its the naivety when we were young, and most definitely the lack of any form of social media and available Internet, but these issues didnt seem anywhere near as prominent. Im not saying they didnt exist, because they most definitely did, but I dont think any where near as much back in the late 80s early 90s. There was a blissful simplicity back then, and people respected and helped each other out. It feels the polar opposite now.
You mentioned working with Tyler Spicer was a huge part of this track’s journey. How did his involvement shape the final sound, and what did he bring to the table that took it to those “new heights”?
This guy is… I have no words. He has become a brother of ours, he’s someone that has truely helped us carv out our identity as WBR. His talent and work ethic is second to none and we consider him a member of our band. During the recording process of Simple Place, we (all of us, including Tyler) didnt have a clear vision or end goal for the track. All the parts were there but we didnt know the overall vibe or destination.
We’d been in the studio for almost a full week, working non stop 14/15hr days, and towards the end of one of the later sessions we were just chatting ridiculous ideas of “maybe it should be a dance track” or “maybe we just fill it with ridiculous synths” and having what can only be described as a delirious laugh, because we were stuck. Then Tyler started dropping some strings and a synth THUD and we just all stopped in silence, and went “yep… this is it” and we continued on that journey until the early hours.
So Tyler’s energy and enthusiasm for this song is what made it.
This feels like a departure from your previous work. Was there any hesitation about releasing something so direct and socially charged, or did it feel like the natural next step for the band?
Zero hesitation. We dont wrote songs for just people pleasing. Everything we write comes from our hearts and own experiences. This was something we all really felt strongly about, and we thought a lot of the world would probably feel the same, so we want everyone to hear it.
The line “what happened to it takes a village” really hits hard. Do you think country music has a responsibility to address these kinds of issues, or is it just what felt right for you as artists?
I dont think Country has a responsibility to address issues, as I quite often listen to the “Good times, jovial, Beer Drinking” country tracks. So id say it was just right for us. But I do think if you have something to say, and you’re passionate about something, music in general, Especially country, is the best platform to do it. 3 chords and the truth…
You’ve said you poured every ounce of blood, sweat and tears into this one. Without giving too much away, what can fans expect from the rest of your 2026 releases? Will you continue exploring these deeper themes?
I have no doubt that down the line we will continue to dive deep into harder topics. But we also like to write “feel good tracks”. We’ve already written about depression, addiction, and now this, so i guess you’ll just have to wait and see what’s around the corner. 😏
Listen To Wood Burnt Red Below
- Wood Burnt Red Interview With Colby - November 3, 2025
- Ragawerk Interview With Colby - October 10, 2025
- GrooveGalore MuziK Interview With Colby - October 10, 2025