PRT: Never Better marks your first new release since the hiatus in ‘22. What does the title mean to you? Is it genuine optimism, sarcasm, or a bit of both?

Adam: DEFINITELY a bit of both! Have you listened to a Russian Girlfriends album? Although this time around, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and I’d like to believe it’s getting brighter.

PRT: You mentioned that a phone call last year sparked things up again. Was it decided that quickly to start things up again?

Adam: Well, it started as an idea to set up a couple reunion shows, but quickly grew legs when we naturally settled into writing new material. When it became apparent we were writing some of our BEST material to date, it was impossible to ignore the magic, so we said ‘fuck it’ and dove in head first.

PRT: You recorded these six tracks at Flying Blanket Studios with Bob Hoag. How much of an influence did he have on the end result?

Adam: Working with Bob was a great experience. The songs were mostly completed when we walked in his door, but like a good producer does, he heard nuanced changes and instrumentation throughout the material and worked hard to help bring the true meaning and feeling of the record to the surface. 10/10 would work with him again. Love ya, Bob!

PRT: Did you experiment with any gear or pedal setups while you were there that you haven’t used on past records?

Colin: Bob is a bit of a mad scientist and always has some new toy he wants to try out. This time, it was an old ’60s Soviet-era guitar—a Jolana Alfa. It’s probably the grimiest-sounding, jankiest guitar I’ve ever played. It sounded like absolute shit on its own, but somehow worked perfectly as an extra layer in the mix, so I ended up using it on five of the six tracks. It’s actually the first thing you hear on the EP. Other than Pro Tools, I don’t think there’s a single piece of gear in that studio made after 1980. The delay we use on the guitars is an original Echoplex analog tape delay. And, every record he does is mixed on an original Neve desk. That desk has stories! Dinosaur Jr. recorded through that desk!

PRT: The EP is described as a reflection of a band rediscovering its identity. What did you have to strip away or rethink?

Adam: When I originally left the band back in December of 2019, it wasn’t entirely an autonomous decision. Roadburn from years of constant touring, drug and alcohol addiction, poor mental health, and toxic relationships had finally come to a head and were negatively affecting my relationships with the other band members. I needed space to find my path forward, whichever it was and wherever it may lead. During my absence, I sought therapy, sobriety, and a return to my songwriter roots with the band Hooks & The Huckleberries, and did a lot of work in challenging and changing my perspective. That change of perspective can be heard all throughout the songs of Never Better. Since getting back together, the chemistry that’s created when the five of us pile into a room to write rock and roll is undeniable. Beyond that, it’s absolutely fucking beautiful, and I refuse to take it for granted anymore.

PRT: How did you decide that an EP was the right format for these songs rather than holding out for a full-length album?

Adam: Honestly, I think we were just excited to get the ball rolling! The songs started pouring out and the project grew legs faster than expected, so we picked the best handful and hit the studio as soon as we could. I wouldn’t worry though. We’re well on our way to having a new full length ready for the studio next year.

PRT: Looking across all six tracks, most of the lyrics focus on finding a way forward rather than getting stuck in nihilism. Was that obvious from the start, or was there a moment where you realized, “hey, I guess we have a central theme”?

Adam: I didn’t start out consciously thinking of a specific lyrical theme, but when that theme started to surface I was more than happy to follow the trail of breadcrumbs into the dark woods. Looking back at my previous writing with the band, I cringe at some of the attitudes I took on, and in turn, spread. Anger, blame, and covert narcissism drip from those tracks. With my new approach, the anger is still there, only now it’s focused on healing and reconciliation as opposed to division and destruction.

PRT: Do any of these six songs originate from older ideas, or was everything written fresh for the April 2026 sessions?

Adam: I think a majority of the songs were skeletons of ideas brought to the table by Colin, Ian, and myself, but none of the songs reached full potential until everyone in the band had their say. One thing I can say about Russian Girlfriends that’s been true from the beginning is that this band is at its best when we can all put our fingerprints into the material.

PRT: You’re releasing Never Better via Sell The Heart Records. How did that relationship come together, and how has working with them been so far?

Adam: Colin reached out to a few labels we were fans of in an attempt to gain interest in the new e.p., and I’m so grateful Sell The Heart ended up being the label to take it on. Andy has built a 100% independent, well curated, kick ass label from the ground up, and I’m incredibly stoked to be included on its roster. Developing direct relationships and getting to know the people we work with is an extremely important ingredient in keeping that DIY punk ethos alive, and I’m proud to be a part of that continuing tradition.

PRT: Friends of mine are in a band called Rich Widows and they’ve already gotten emails from people looking for a wealthy partner rather than punk rock. Have you ever gotten strange messages from people taking the name ‘Russian Girlfriends’ literally?

Adam: We’ve wallpapered our practice space with all the dick picks we’ve been ‘gifted’.

PRT: What’s up next for Russian Girlfriends once the EP is out?

Adam: We’re currently plotting out some tour runs for 2027, as well as writing the material for our next full length, so as long as the world doesn’t end between now and then, we’ll see y’all out there!