Kal Marks break down the influences behind new album Wasteland Baby

For more than a decade, Boston’s Kal Marks have been delivering intense yet melodic albums of indie rock and post-hardcore, rife with social commentary and riffs galore. After achieving a then-personal best with 2022’s My Life Is Hell, the band returns with Wasteland Baby, a more personal document of becoming a new parent amid some of their most adventurous sounds to date, pairing atmospheric dirges against driving disco-punk and immersive, maximalist psychedelia. It’s a hell of a ride.

With Wasteland Baby out now via Exploding In Sound, Kal Marks frontman Carl Shane broke down the influences behind the album, both logical and unexpected—from Pissed Jeans and Thin Lizzy to Stevie Wonder and Sly and the Family Stone.

Dog Faced Hermans “Jan 9th”: I don’t know how we found this Scottish band from the late eighties, but it immediately caught all of our attention. Incredibly unique eccentric punk. We totally based the verse of “Insects” off this.

Preoccupations “Antidote”: This drum beat was a big inspiration for Adam [Berkowitz]’s drum part in the verse of “Midnight.”

Soldiers of Fortune “Sleeping Sentinel”: This tune as well as plenty of krautrock classics were a big inspiration for John [Russell]’s bass playing. Repetitive and groovy. 

Sly & the Family Stone “Sing A Simple Song”: I’ve been listening to Sly constantly since I was a little boy. I’ve always listened to a lot of soul and funk, but they were definitely something that touched me more than others because of how strange they are. The “yah” section was a big influence on “Insects.”  I also just realized the horn break must of crept into my subconscious when coming up with guitar break. 

Liars “Let’s Not Wrestle Mt Heart Attack”: We love this band in all their iterations. Love the groovy drums with eerie vocals and dissonance

Smokey & His Sister “Ever Losin Lover”: I heard this song on a college station driving from Boston to home in RI. I feel in love with the song, but in the duration of the song I lost the radio signal and got static interruptions. That was where we got the idea for intro song.

Liaisons Dangereuses “Los Ninos Del Parque”: I was listening to a lot stuff like this and DAF during the writing. Sometimes I would just sing something over their drums and bass lines.

Mitski “Nobody”: Christina [Puerto] is huge fan of her. It’s definitely rubbed off on me. I can only imagine the disco beat and the lyrics had to of crept into my subconscious 

Pissed Jeans “Half Idiot”: It took a while to figure out a drum part for “Wasteland Baby.” Everything felt too obvious. When we heard this it was light bulb moment for Adam. 

New Order “We all Stand”: The kings of using chorus on bass. 

Nine Inch Nails “March Of the Pigs”: Song definitely influenced the schizophrenic vibe to “Midnight”. Also Adam loves their current drummer Ilan Rubin who plays open handed.

Deerhunter “Nothing Ever Happened”: Big influence on both Christina and John. The atmospheric guitar and the repetitive bass groove

Magnetic Fields “Book of Love”: it’s hard to pick one song, but they are such an inspiration lyrically. Honestly Stephen Merritt might be the best writer ever. 

Arthur Russell “Love is Overtaking Me”: song makes me cry. I wanted to make sure this record really had a heart like this song

Portishead “Silence”: I think this is the most important record in my life. Every year it gets better and still gives me chills.

Ed Schrader’s Music Beat “Rust”: this whole record is so fucking good and it’s hard to pick one song. Amazing songs and a big influence to widen our sound. 

Women “Black Rice”: John said the end bass line crept into his thoughts a lot.

The Strokes “Reptilia”: the lead guitar was on Christina’s mind with her lead parts in songs like “You are Found”

Stevie Wonder “Bird of Beauty”: I know it might not make sense but Stevie Wonder’s music has been in the DNA of everything we do. 

Plattenbau “Cloaking Love”: We toured with this band from Berlin, Germany. We feel in love with their vibe and atmosphere. I’d say pivotal in our decision making for this record

Beach Boys “Wouldn’t it be Nice”: We listened to this after a long writing session. I can’t remember if I was fried or under the influence, but the opening line echoed in my head in sort of a demented way, and that lead to “Functional Earth.”

Blonde Redhead “Misery is Butterfly”: Yeah, a bunch of people have said “You are Found” sounds like them. I can see it now.

Thin Lizzy “This is the one”: Best rock band ever. Kicks ass and has a strong romantic tendency that is hard to pull off.

Giorgio Moroder & Cerrone: these two are kind of titans in disco music. I don’t have a vast knowledge of the genre, but my brother does. Definition rubbed off on me. 

Big | Brave “carvers, farriers and knaves”: Love this band. Such a beautiful racket. They play guitar like they are trying control something that is kind uncontrollable. Like lassoing a tornado. New album is amazing.

Washer “Death of An Empire”: I love Quigley’s phrasing and lyrics. I think this record is their best.