Q&A: American Authors Hit the Gas with “Race Car”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY DANIELLE HOLIAN ☆
Since their breakout moment with the triple-platinum anthem “Best Day of My Life,” American Authors have become synonymous with feel-good, arena-ready pop rock that carries both emotional resonance and global reach. With over one billion streams, tours alongside the likes of OneRepublic, Andy Grammar, The Fray, and The Revivalists, and festival stops from Lollapalooza to Reading & Leeds, the New York-based trio have cemented themselves as one of the most enduring acts of the past decade.
Yet, with their latest single “Race Car,” the band isn’t looking back; they’re shifting gears. The track captures the heady rush of fleeting love, set against warm guitar riffs, layered harmonies, and rhythms that feel equal parts nostalgic and refreshing. The track is lush yet effortless, pairing golden-hour guitar tones with Zac Barnett’s soaring vocals in a way that feels cinematic, almost tailor-made for late-night drives or sun-drenched escapes. What makes it stand out, though, is the vulnerability beneath the groove: a reflection on love’s intensity when it’s destined to be fleeting. True to their ethos, American Authors manage to transform impermanence into something hopeful, proof that even the most transient moments can leave a lasting imprint. “Race Car” is a reminder to embrace the ride, no matter how short the trip may be.
Keep reading for a conversation with their bassist, Dave Rublin, to discuss passion, growth, and what comes next in their ever-evolving journey.
LUNA: Thank you for talking to Luna! To start, how are you all feeling with the release of “Race Car” and stepping into this new chapter of your music?
RUBLIN: Hey Luna! Dave here - thank you for having us! We are feeling extremely excited about entering the next chapter of our music. We’ve been really expanding the idea of what American Authors can be, all with the through line of positivity, hope and determination to live the best life you can. Race Car - we really fell in love with the story and the vibe of the track. It’s smooth and somber, but paints a great picture of uncertainty, yet hope in the idea of true love, even if sometimes it’s fast and fleeting.
LUNA: After more than a decade together and over a billion streams, how do you keep finding new stories to tell through your music?
RUBLIN: Being an artist is a story - it’s a deep dive into our own struggles and secrets, the harder things in life - sometimes it’s easier to paint the sound of our own lives through the process of music. We’ve lost loved ones, fallen in love, fallen out of love, come face-to-face with our own mortality, and brought life into this world. I think our friendships have grown deeper, our trust in each other has grown stronger, and with that strength, we’re able to carry each other musically and lyrically. We’ve been exploring creative ways to express what we’ve been going through and experiencing together. Growing up is weird, especially in the music industry, but we are taking these growing pains and making some beautiful art with them.
LUNA: “Race Car” explores the idea of fleeting love and the rush of passion that doesn’t always last. What inspired you to capture that particular feeling in this track?
RUBLIN: We’ve been listening to a lot of songs that really have a groove and a vibe you never want to leave, but give an overwhelming feeling of coasting – songs by Washed Out, Toro y Moi, the Milky Chance vibe, the La Lom energy, and Polo and Pan. We’ve all experienced the one that got away. We wanted to kind of capture that.
LUNA: The song’s harmonies and guitar riffs feel both nostalgic and fresh. How did you approach the production process to create that balance?
RUBLIN: Matt and I brought our production gear to record in a cabin outside of Nashville. We wanted to make it nostalgic by bringing hollow body electric guitar elements along with this janky rustic acoustic guitar tone that gives you the sense that it’s dirty, but punchy in the low end. Matt’s daughter has this toy snare, which we thought would be a really fun layer to the snare drums. Matt then explored with a vintage Microkorg to fill in the gaps of the production. Zac also had these amazing counterpoint licks on the guitar, which really rounded out the groove. It made it special. Matt added these very woo’s and ooohs. And we added classic American Authors gang vocals to beef it all up. The bass production was pretty straightforward - I wanted something jumpy and grooving with a hint of tone that can glue the bottom end in a really fun way. Technology has gotten so amazing that most of my tone I can get from just basic pedals - my Ampeg SCR-DI is pretty much the color of the whole new record. Zac also had these amazing counterpoint dish licks on the guitar which really rounded out the groove. It made it special. We’ve also been experimenting with Zac singing an octave lower and higher to fill in the lead vocal. Pushing his lower register to the front. We’ve never really tried this new technique until this collection of songs was created.
LUNA: As a band that’s known for writing hopeful, anthemic songs like “Best Day of My Life,” how does “Race Car” fit into your overall musical journey?
RUBLIN: Optimism is a big driver for American Authors. Conceptually, we make music for the hopeful, for people who are struggling and sometimes can’t see the brighter side of life. “Best Day of My Life” was a testament to being afraid of the outside world, but being able to know that tomorrow you could conquer it just by believing in your dreams. “Race Car” is about feeling an emotion head-on in the real world, the highs and lows, the ups and downs, and still being able to keep on cruising no matter how much it can hurt.
LUNA: American Authors have played massive festivals like Lollapalooza and Reading & Leeds. How does the energy of live performance influence the way you write songs like “Race Car”?
RUBLIN: Playing live shows is literally our favorite thing to do. We’ve taken a lot of pride in being able to connect with our audience, and it drives us to make things exciting and impactful. When we’re in the studio, we think about what this song would feel like live, feeling the good vibes as the sun sets, surrounded by friends.
LUNA: Fans often connect deeply with your lyrics. What do you hope listeners take away emotionally after hearing “Race Car”?
RUBLIN: We hope “Race Car” brings peace and a contemplative soundtrack to life, even in the bittersweet moments. I suggest listening to it with the top down or the windows of the car open and enjoying the sound.
LUNA: With “Best Day of My Life” still a cultural touchstone years later, how do you balance honoring past successes while continuing to push forward with new music like “Race Car”?
RUBLIN: We honor our “Best Day of My Life” all the time - it’s truly been a career-defining song. “Race Car“ has its place in our discography as we explore new sonics and a new experience. We’re excited for you to hear the rest of the music we’re creating as we forge ahead and push the folk pop rock genre even further.
LUNA: Looking back at your journey from Berklee to Brooklyn to the world stage, what’s one lesson you’ve learned that still shapes your creative process today?
RUBLIN: All ideas are important, and all ideas deserve to be heard and executed. Collaborate with people you love and who are inspiring to you. You are not running out of time, take your time with your art, and make sure it comes from the heart. Never give up on your dreams and keep going, tomorrow is a new day and a chance to make something amazing.
LUNA: What’s the vibe of this chapter in your journey as a band, and what’s next on the horizon that you’d like to share with Luna readers?
RUBLIN: The vibe of the next chapter of American Authors is paying homage to music that we loved growing up and making music as authentically as we can. We plan on pushing the genres in all the right ways. We have a bunch of fun shows this year still to come, and we are looking forward to an amazing 2026. Maybe we’ll announce a tour soon for next year. Right now, the sky is the limit, creativity is flowing, and we are feeling younger and more creative than ever. We won’t stop being a band that you can always rely on to get you through the hard times and also the best times. Thank you so much for interviewing us, and we’re excited to come back soon.
