In this age of quotidian nihilism, of pervasive and boundless jadedness, you might be forgiven for being taken aback when someone says to you: “I hope you’re happy.” It’d be easy to load that phrase with acerbic meaning, to interpret it foremost as coming from a place of spite and sarcasm. And nine times out of 10, you’d probably be right. But in the case of seminal musicians Blue October, the statement is disarmingly sincere. It’s a surprise, to be sure. But “I Hope You’re Happy,” the title track representative of the Texas outfit’s latest body of work in both word and sound, is the first burst in a salvo of overwhelming positivity—a sonically abundant, rich, lusciously atmospheric, lovingly produced record.
Early fans of the band’s work, those who haven’t kept track of the band’s journey in its latter years, might be hard-pressed to recognize the foursome—comprised of Ryan Delahoussaye, the band’s multi-instrumentalist; Matt Noveskey on bass; and brothers Jeremy and Justin Furstenfeld, the band’s drummer and front man, respectively. The group, once known for its stormy dynamic and self-destructive tendencies, couldn’t be more distinct, today, from the band it once was. And the members of Blue October want everyone they encounter to know the great place they’re in, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. “We’ve had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and we’ve come out the other side,” says Noveskey, who describes the record as “emotional.”
Such is the subject matter of a documentary detailing the band’s transformation from sordid to solid, from ravaged by the tempest of addiction to blessed by the joys of family life. Just like any other relationship, the band’s dynamic is multifaceted, and what we’re privy to on camera is but a snapshot into the group’s complex world. While the documentary documents the band in its stormier days, today, it looks like smooth sailing for the boys of Blue October.
With their previous record, the band’s 2016 effort Home, behind them, the band was ready to start writing their follow-up album. “We were in a great spot, coming off of a great record. We were all in a great place,” says Delahoussaye. But one thing was going to be different with this record: The band’s frontman and guitarist, Justin Furstenfeld, would be at the helm—his first time producing an album. “Justin had a specific vision; we trusted he knew what it needed to sound like,” offers Noveskey.
And even though I Hope You’re Happy was the first record Justin Furstenfeld produced, he still managed to push the envelope, leading his band to new heights in terms of sound and production. “I really had to take the training wheels off this time,” he says. “In today’s day and age, as a producer, you learn so much from people; like, I’ve worked with Tim Palmer and Steve Lillywhite.” Furstenfeld’s production style was the result of years of studying the craft and taking notes from storied producers— then stepping out of his comfort zone to experiment in a way that would yield a truly lush soundscape. “If it works, it works,” says Furstenfeld. “I don’t care if you practiced it or it’s perfect, if it’s hooky, I’ll make it work and use it. It’s art for me.”
The rest of the band was fully on board with Justin’s vision, placing their faith in him to produce a record above and beyond what Blue October had done before. “Justin’s got this gift where he can envision, like a movie, what the entire song is going to sound like before he even plays a note,” says Jeremy Furstenfeld. “Like, the song is already written completely, part by part. It’s a gift, how he can hear everything. Like the song’s there, it’s done.” A major component of the new record can be found in the massive string arrangements composed by Delahoussaye. “If you’ve got a string player that plays all these instruments, you get in the studio and see what he’s got,” says Justin Furstenfeld. “It’s beautiful and when you hear it, you’ll be touched.”
“One of the things that I love about this record is that Ryan can provide an entire orchestra by himself. He can bring in this whole cinematic aspect to a song; it makes it feel like it’s a film. He can really shine on this record,” says Noveskey. The record itself seemingly can’t be categorized, according to Blue October. “I don’t even consider us a rock band in the first place. This record has no genre,” says Justin Furstenfeld. Per Furstenfeld, the post-production process for the new record entailed “having an urban mixer mix an alternative band produced like art rock.” Perhaps that’s why Blue October’s canon is so eminently accessible, because the band defies genre—and what’s more, because their message is so relentlessly positive as to doubtless brighten the effect of fans and listeners, new and old alike.
I Hope You’re Happy was released August 17, 2018 on Up/Down Records, in partnership with Brando Records, a record label founded by Justin Furstenfeld, who remains the label’s president. The album’s title track has already cracked the top 20 on the Billboard Alternative chart, the 11th single over Blue October’s nine studio albums to reach Top 40 on the US airplay charts. Justin has now been sober (and loving it!) for six years; the band is happy and enjoying life both on the road and at home with their families; and they want the best for everyone in their lives. Says Justin: “I Hope You’re Happy is about wishing your enemies well… anyone who’s touched my life, or I’ve touched your life— life’s so short, and I hope you’re happy.”
