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Jason of Toronto’s melodic hardcore/pop punk band Burning Out joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to talk about their new single “Kill Me Maybe,” the upcoming EP, the Toronto punk scene, heartbreak, songwriting, DIY culture, and how bands are navigating social media in 2026.
In this conversation, Jason opens up about the deeply personal story behind Burning Out’s upcoming EP, which explores the emotional aftermath of a difficult breakup. We also dive into Toronto’s music scene, Warped Tour memories, mixed-genre lineups, the evolution of DIY music culture, and why playing live remains the most cathartic part of being in a band.
Plus, Jason shares a ton of underrated Toronto bands you should be listening to right now.
Timestamps
00:00 Heartbreak, cats, and songwriting
01:38 Introducing Burning Out
02:14 Why Hardcore Cheerleader recommended the band
02:58 How Burning Out blends pop punk, melodic hardcore, and emo
04:30 The band’s songwriting process
06:01 New single “Kill Me Maybe”
06:52 The story behind the upcoming EP
08:51 Processing heartbreak through music
09:22 Why songwriting feels like therapy
10:47 The emotional side of performing live
11:59 Writing breakup songs in your 40s
12:40 Growing up around the Toronto scene
13:58 Community over competition in punk music
16:01 Has the scene changed since the 2000s?
17:02 Mixed-genre bills and modern shows
18:13 Why music fans listen to everything now
19:51 Warped Tour’s influence on music culture
21:12 DIY culture vs social media marketing
22:35 Learning modern music promotion
24:01 What’s next for Burning Out?
24:47 Upcoming Toronto show announcement
26:49 Toronto bands you need to hear
28:52 Greatest Toronto-area bands of all time
30:11 Final thoughts
If you’re into Hot Mulligan, Turnover, Basement, Boys Night Out, Silverstein, Set Your Goals, melodic hardcore, pop punk, emo, and the Toronto music scene, you’ll love this conversation.
Thumbnail photo by Ryan Brough
