Video Premiere: Paper Route, “You And I”

On 9/11, Nashville indie rock trio Paper Route will release their sophomore album, The Peace Of Wild Things. If you’ve seen 500 Days of Summer, you’ve already heard their song “The Music,” from their 2009 debut Absence.

Check out the lyric video for “You And I,” which like most Paper Route songs, is built around a beat.

“Drums are a huge part of the Paper Route songwriting process,” says vocalist J.T. Daly. “We tend to write like a hip hop band almost. It’s all about beat placement.”

If you hear a little Coldplay in the band’s sound, there’s a reason for that.

“When Coldplay released Parachutes, it helped shape the way we listened to pop music,” drummer Gavin McDonald tells American Songwriter when asked if they’re an influence. “They were doing something interesting that everyone could listen to. They include and welcome every type of person to be a part of what they’re doing. There’s a balance of risk and innovation, yet an accessibility that is obviously why they’re so popular.

“What they do is always under the microscope because essentially it’s ‘smart pop music,’ which is a very tough thing to pull off. If there’s one thing that we have drawn from, it’s the nature of creating art and music that doesn’t leave anyone out. Of course you will always have more criticism based on the level of success you have, hence why so many people either love or hate Coldplay.”