We caught up with pop punk trio Games We Play ahead of their UK tour this August, where they’ll be stopping at Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and London. Frontman Emmyn Calleiro took TikTok by storm last year, going viral with his track ‘Deadbeat’, successfully bringing pop-punk back into mainstream music..
How’s 2023 gone for you so far?
2023 kind of hasn’t made any sense. In the best way possible. I did Europe with All Time Low in February and now am doing a US tour with them and so many games we play fans are showing up and it’s so amazing but confusing because I have no idea where they came from. Haha.
Can you talk to us about your relationship with Pete Wentz and how that’s impacted you?
Pete is my boy. We’re best friends. Kinda like we’re dating but we don’t kiss or hold hands. He’s super there for me (he’s taking me on my first ampitheatre tour) and I just love to talk to him. I run so many things by him and am thankful to call him a friend.
You’ll be heading to the UK soon, are you looking forward to the shows?
I’m so unbelievably nervous hahaha. I feel like a lot of people would be like “yeah I’m stoked” (WHICH I AM) but I’m just so nervous. It’s literally a different continent. I’m so nervous. I hope people show up because I want them to be the best shows ever.
You’re visiting Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and London – have you visited any of these places before and do you have any fond memories?
I have never been to any of these places except London. London had some pretty good scones and clotted cream and jam and I am hoping the rest of these places have that if not this whole tour is kind of pointless.
What can we expect from the show?
A lot of sexual tension between my band and I. A lot of me trying for find a girlfriend for my little brother who’s also my merch guy. That’s pretty much it.
Tell us about the creative process around songwriting?
So I think the games we play process is kinda weird because I’m not the one who usually starts the lyrics. I dropped out of school when I was 14 so my vocabulary is pretty bad haha. So what I’ll do is write a melody and instrumental, take it to my friends and say what I WANT to write about, and then they’ll help me get it started with the first portion of lyrics and then I hop in. I’m really bad at making the first sentence of a song.
What is the best piece of advice that you’ve been given?
Hmmmmmm. When I first met one of my managers nano (#poornano) I was very on getting my song “I hope you’re happy” really big. It was kind of the only thing I was worried about in the moment and he told me that I was so much more than that song and I needed to go tour my ass off and I listened and it has paid off so unbelievably much.
How was being on the road with All Time Low?
I love All Time Low far beyond how I can describe my love for them. They took me to Europe (which is a very hard opportunity to get for a band like me) and we hang pretty much every day. They’re some of my favorite people. Jack is so funny. Alex is so cool. Rian is so hot. Zach is ripped. I love them 💖
Have you got any messages for your fans?
I don’t know!!! Maybe?!?! Hahaha. Wear very supportive shoes to these shows. Even if they’re ugly, your feet will thank u because I would say for the hour long set less than 50% is spent on the ground.
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