California misfit collective Peach Tree Rascals share their debut Camp Nowhere, an eight-track collection of songs that revel in the unpretentious joys of camping and the outdoors. Written and recorded during quarantine, Camp Nowhere was inspired by a trip to Yosemite, and much like the serene offerings of an actual camping excursion, these are songs of recovery and healing. Needless to say, in the past year, we’ve all been through it, and Camp Nowhere is the perfect musical abode to take shelter in.
“Camp Nowhere came from the idea that a lot of people have been using the isolation of quarantine and the state of the world to dig deeper into themselves and figure out what’s important to them,” rapper/singer Tarrek says of the EP. “For some it’s discovering a new hobby, or that it’s time to move on to a new place. For PTR, it was taking a week in Yosemite to dive into our creativity.”
Musically, Camp Nowhere draws from a wide array of influences and genres. For the five members of Peach Tree Rascals, the EP is where their individual tastes and talents coalesce into a singular vision that evokes memories of the best days. The EP opens with “OOZ,” also the first single from the record and Camp Nowhere’s kick-off event. Its buoyant vocals and cascading layers of synths, propelled forward by playful drum-beat and riffs, are so delectably sweet they nearly feel sticky. It’s a big brag so pleasant you won’t even realize they’re boasting. “I wanted to make sure this was the eye into our world,” Jorge illuminates, “The opening of the gates. The intro to the world we created around our camp.” It’s certainly the warmest introduction they could have possibly conceived.
Next up is “LEAVE ME.” Where the first single from the EP “OOZ” is Camp Nowhere’s kick-off event, “LEAVE ME” finds the campers fully settling into their back-no-nature rhythm. Anchored by funk, retro-soul guitars and trumpet, “LEAVE ME” lives inside a summer afternoon of basking in the rays. “JoJo” is Camp Nowhere’s meditation room. Here, Peach Tree Rascals slow the tempo with an easy-paced beat that’s sticky like swimming in a pool of molasses. Leaning on the repeating chorus, “breathe in, breathe out, let your love come shining out,” “JoJo” is a mantra and reminder to take a minute for yourself.
“Change My Mind” sees Peach Tree Rascals doing what they do best – slick flows, multi-layered harmonies, and effervescent production that will get you boppin’, guaranteed. “‘Change My Mind,’ the video, is us reverting back to the 2018 rascals,” rapper-singer Issac Pech shares about the accompanying clip. “We wanted to have fun while shooting and not be swayed to do things a certain way. Collectively, we felt a little industry, so to film this video where we just got to be free and do whatever we wanted was like a breath of fresh air.” Peach Tree Rascals creative director Jorge Olazaba adds, “At the core, the video is about doing things your own way and staying true to yourself no matter the circumstances.”
“Doing Fine” is another moment of introspection on Camp Nowhere. Lyrically, the track reflects on spending (too much) time inside in isolation where thoughts meander and sometimes spiral. Melancholic piano chords mirror the listlessness we’ve all felt while being cooped up inside. The track’s seductive bass line preambles a more optimistic future where “doing fine” is no longer just something we tell ourselves to get by, but a reality. ‘Oos and aahs’ and handclaps burst through the intro of the next track, “papá.” The song’s propulsive beat and effortless interchange between singing and rapping verses give it levitation.
With “Pockets,” Peach Tree Rascals switches things up. Lullaby sweet acoustic guitar serves as a bedrock for this song about finding your own happiness. “I don’t need your love / Got my tools and happiness,” the Rascals croon alongside synth flourishes and plaintive violin. Camp Nowhere draws to a close with “Oh Honey! (I Love You).” It’s a fitting final note for the record and brims with lush harmonies and surf-rock nostalgia with bits of classical touches. It’s a reminder, after a long weekend at Camp Nowhere, that oh honey, I love you, you can call me up anytime.
To date, Peach Tree Rascals has garnered 400M+ streams across platforms and count 6M+ Spotify monthly listeners. Their breakthrough hit “Mariposa” charted to #1 on the Alternative Radio Chart and have been co-signed by Lizzo and Harry Styles. You can stream Camp Nowhere by Peach Tree Rascals by click here or head to Spotify, YouTube and SoundCloud to stream and listen to all their released .
TRACKLIST:
- OOZ
- LEAVE ME
- JoJo
- Change My Mind
- Doing Fine
- papá
- Pockets
- Oh Honey! (I Love You)