408 is a pop punk band out of Orlando, Florida. Their biggest musical influence is Blink-182 and the side projects that came with the band (Angels and Airwaves, Boxcar Racer, +44, etc). 408 has a similar vocal style and range to Blink-182 with their own spin on the punk instrumentals. From catchy radio style hits to harder hitting, emotionally heavy songs, 408 is a band that will continue to grow and flourish in the music scene!
I recently had the chance to speak with Mark Faroudi (bass/vocals) and hear a little bit about how 408 came to be. Faroudi began playing in bands back in 2004 when he was in high school with his band, A Vital Message, which saw local success in Orlando. Steven Parsons became a member of the band when the two met in college but due to scheduling conflicts the band broke up. For years following the break up, both Faroudi and Parsons went on a hiatus from music. Luckily for us, that didn’t stop Faroudi from writing music. During the break up period, Faroudi was dealing with a lot of personal issues. “I had went through many life changes, loss of a relationship, failing out of school and getting back into UCF after failing out and finishing with a high GPA, ect. I used all of those things and started to write and get back into the studio with Jason Aaron Adams at the end of 2016. I wrote 4 songs which all are on the Mrs. Lemonsqueezer EP and released them on April 8th 2017. I had wrote all of the songs with the help of Jason Aaron Adams and Jon Jordan. I then received a show offer and formed the band back with Steven Pasons and new comer, Christian Perez. We then proceeded to release another 4 music videos and an addition EP, “Oops” at the end of 2017.”
Prior to Faroudi reaching out to me, I had never even heard of 408. Once I got to chatting with Faroudi, I had to check out the music video for their single “Wasted”. Right when the music began, the Blink-182 vibes came rushing in. The repetitive drumming sound and smooth guitar introduction was very reminiscent of Blink-182’s song, Always. What I love about this song is that it holds true to 408’s influences while incorporating their own quick paced punk sound. To my pleasant surprise, 408 integrated their love for hip hop in the song. “Wasted” features a rap verse, something that is not commonly seen in a punk rock song. If you’re wondering how a rap verse sounds in a punk rock song, wonder no more. It sounds so awesome. In addition to having all these dope elements in the song, “Wasted” also has a heavy meaning behind it. “This is a very special song to us about how toxic relationships can effect you in a negative light. We always talk about deep topics in our life that we feel should be brought to light so other people can relate and learn.”
“All of the music we write was about real situations and real life instances that we pour out through our songs to share with others.” If you listen to any 408 song, you’ll have no trouble understanding this quote. All of the lyrics in their songs are very relatable as they touch on situations that most people go through at some point in their life. From changing friendships, relationships and life’s ups and downs, 408 knows how to write a song that will connect with everyone. The band’s most current release, “Oops” is a four song EP that slays from start to finish. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I would absolutely recommend checking out “Wasted” and “Feeling“. Those two songs alone will turn you into a life long fan!
Upon speaking with Faroudi, it is clear he has high expectations for 408 this year. “2018 we are planning another 5 song EP to be released sometime in the summer. As well as at least 3 music videos.” In addition to a new EP set to release, 408 has shows coming up throughout the Spring and Summer! With new music on the way and shows continuously being added to the band’s schedule, I expect nothing but big things for the band this year. I can’t wait to get the chance to catch them live myself! Make sure to check out music from 408 in this post and on the blog’s Spotify playlist!