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After 18 years without new music, The Academy Is… are officially back! William Beckett joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to talk about their new album “Almost There” and what it means to return after nearly two decades.
In this conversation, William reflects on celebrating 20+ years of Almost Here, how the band reunited organically through live shows and festivals like Warped Tour, and why this new record is about being present rather than living in nostalgia.
If you grew up on emo, pop punk, and the Warped Tour era, or you’re rediscovering it now, this is a must-watch.
Subscribe for more interviews with artists from the emo, pop punk, and alternative scenes.
Timestamps
00:00 – Early touring chaos (and why they stopped doing guitar spins)
01:45 – Intro: The Academy Is… return after 18 years
02:57 – “Almost Here” vs “Almost There” meaning
04:13 – Writing a deeply personal and present record
05:34 – Why the band originally stopped making music
07:31 – How live shows reignited the band
10:22 – Why this album is completely fresh (no old demos)
12:37 – What this record revealed about William and the band
16:35 – The core theme: not having all the answers
21:02 – Avoiding nostalgia and staying present
23:34 – Songs that act as love letters to the past
26:34 – The missing story of the 2000s emo scene
30:01 – Rose-tinted glasses and the reality of the era
35:29 – Warped Tour’s return and what it means today
37:38 – Reconnecting with fans and community
43:12 – The surprise of how big the comeback was
45:23 – New bands to check out
