Mainland (band)
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{infobox musical artist
| name = Mainland
| genre = post-punk, pop{{cite web|title=Welcome|url=http://www.mainlandnyc.com/|website=M A I N L A N D|accessdate=28 July 2016}}
| origin = New York, New York
| label = 300 Entertainment
| associated_acts = Marianas Trench, Atlas Genius,{{cite web|last1=DiMartino|first1=Dave|title=Mainland: A Bit Out of Time…But in a Good Way|url=https://rising.yahoo.com/post/137820271258/mainland-a-bit-out-of-timebut-in-a-good-way?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma|website=Yahoo! Music|accessdate=28 July 2016}} Jukebox the Ghost, Melanie Martinez, The Wrecks
| website =
| current_members = Jordan Topf (vocals, guitar)
Corey Mullee (guitar, synth)
Alex Pitta (bass)
| past_members = Dylan Longstreet (drums)
}}
Mainland was an American post-punk/rock band based in Brooklyn, New York. The current members are Jordan Topf, Corey Mullee, and Alex Pitta.
Background
=2011-2015=
Members Corey and Jordan first met at a party, Jordan being in another band at the time. After leaving his former band, he reconnected with Corey to form Mainland. Alex worked at restaurant with Jordan and joined shortly after.{{cite web|last1=Maurer|first1=Daniel|title=Premiere: Watch Mainland Play 'A Bit Out of Time' at a Fake Diner|url=http://bedfordandbowery.com/2016/02/premiere-watch-mainland-play-a-bit-out-of-time/|website=Bedford and Bowery|accessdate=28 July 2016|date=2016-02-29}}{{cite web|last1=Staff|title=The Outcast Story: A Q&A with Mainland / Ones To Watch|url=http://www.onestowatch.com/blog/the-outcast-story-a-qa-with-mainland|website=Ones to Watch|accessdate=28 July 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Suvick|first1=Paige|title=Sound Scene Express {{!}} Mainland Interview and TICKET GIVEAWAY|url=http://www.soundsceneexpress.com/mainland-interview-and-ticket-giveaway/|website=Sound Scene Express|accessdate=28 July 2016}} The band’s name comes from a word Topf first heard used by his mother, who spoke of missing the mainland of California where she grew up. Said Topf, “It felt fitting for our story and how we met in New York City. There tends to always be a sense of nostalgia and longing in our music whether it be about a place or a person.” {{cite web|first1=|title=GOLDEN BOY PRESS - MAINLAND GOLDEN BOY PRESS INTERVIEW #369 Meet...|url=http://goldenboypress.tumblr.com/post/135662676950/mainland-golden-boy-press-interview-369-meet|website=Golden Boy Press|accessdate=28 July 2016}}
=2015-present=
In December 2015, Mainland released a 4-song EP titled Outcast under 300 Entertainment, the record label which they signed with earlier that year. The EP was recorded at Sound City in Los Angeles{{Cite web |date=2015-09-04 |title=Mainland's Pop 'n Rock Serves Up the Best of Both Coasts |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mainland_b_8066752 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=HuffPost |language=en}} released exclusively through Billboard.{{cite magazine|last1=Williams|first1=Nick|title=NYC Indie-Pop Rockers Mainland Stream 'Outcast' EP: Exclusive Premiere|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6784903/mainland-outcast-ep-300-entertainment-exclusive-premiere|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=28 July 2016}} They toured with Canadian band Marianas Trench from January–February 2016.{{cite web|last1=Igneri|first1=Jenna|title=The Boys Of Mainland Are Cooler Than You Are|url=http://www.nylon.com/articles/mainland-not-as-cool-as-me|website=NYLON|date=7 January 2016 |accessdate=28 July 2016}} They were the opening act for Jukebox the Ghost in February 2016, and the opening act for Melanie Martinez's Cry Baby tour.{{cite web|last1=Keller|first1=Roscoe|title=Interview: NYC's Mainland Discuss New Album And Life On Tour|url=http://thenewfury.com/wordpress/interview-mainland/|website=The New Fury|date=10 April 2016 |accessdate=28 July 2016}} In June 2016, they released their single "Beggars" followed by a stream of self-produced singles “Permission Slip”, “Empty Promises”, and “Dummy Test”. On April 28, 2019, the band released a 5-song EP titled Villains under 300 Entertainment. It included singles "I Found God" and “Hometown". On May 22, 2019, Mainland collaborated with Rynx for the release of his fourth single, “Read My Mind.”
The band played their final show on January 25, 2019 at The Satellite in Los Angeles, California.{{Cite web |title=Jan 25, 2019: The Technicolors / Mainland at The Satellite Los Angeles, California, United States {{!}} Concert Archives |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/the-technicolors-with-all-things-blue-at-the-satellite-january-25-2019 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=www.concertarchives.org}} The band went dormant the years following as singer Jordan Topf went solo as Windser {{Cite web |title=Ones To Watch |url=https://www.onestowatch.com/en/blog/windser-trouble-in-paradise |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Ones to Watch |language=en}} and announced on X their official split in 2022.https://x.com/mainland/status/1528118052935507968
Notable Features
Mainland’s single "Not As Cool As Me" was featured on Shake Shack's Shack 10 playlist on Spotify, which features 10 popular songs playing in locations each month.{{cite web|last1=Staff|title=2016'S BRINGING THE BURGER BEATS ON JANUARY'S SHACK10 PLAYLIST|url=https://www.shakeshack.com/2016/01/06/2016s-bringing-the-burger-beats-on-januarys-shack10-playlist/|website=Shake Shack|accessdate=28 July 2016|date=6 January 2016}}
Influences
Collectively, Mainland's influences include British bands such as The Cure, Depeche Mode, New Order, and The La's. In Jordan Topf’s words, "We love the way those bands mask well-crafted pop songs with poignant lyrics."{{cite web|last1=Staff|title=Video: A Baeble NEXT Session With Mainland - Baeble Music|url=http://www.baeblemusic.com/concert-video/baeble-hq/mainland.html|website=Baeble Music|accessdate=28 July 2016}}
Mainland also lists Michael Jackson, The Velvet Underground, and The Clash as artists that inspire them.{{cite web|last1=Ladygunn|title=#SXSW: MAINLAND|url=http://ladygunn.com/music/sxsw-mainland|website=LadyGunn|date=18 March 2016 |accessdate=28 July 2016}}
Discography
- Shiner EP (2014)
- Outcast EP (2015)
- Beggars (2016)
- Permission Slip (2016)
- Empty Promises (2016)
- Dummy Test (2016)
- I Found God (2017)
- Hometown (2018)
- Villains EP (2018)
External links
- {{official website|http://www.mainlandnyc.com/}}
- {{instagram|mainlandnyc|Mainland}}