INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY INDI TEJEDA ☆
Photo by Jacqueline Day
FOR OUT IN FRONT, THE ROAD TO BECOMING A BAND—has been built through a collection of unexpected moments: Meeting as tennis coaches, turning casual jam sessions into a creative outlet, and eventually finding themselves playing alongside some of alternative rock’s biggest rising names. What started as three friends making music after work has grown into an emotionally charged project built around community, connection and the desire to create something bigger than themselves.
The Los Angeles-based trio of Madie Renner, Isaiah Volk and Ryen Wagner have quickly become known for their high-energy live performances and anthemic sound, blending gritty guitars, powerful drums and vulnerable songwriting. After forming in 2024, OUT IN FRONT began their journey completely DIY, building their audience through relentless touring and a hands-on approach to every part of the project. Since then, they have supported artists including Yellowcard, The All-American Rejects, Sublime, AJR, Wet Leg, Charlotte Sands and more, while recently signing with AWAL.
Their latest single, “Medicine,” captures the emotional cost of chasing a dream while trying to stay connected to the people and moments that matter most. Written after lead vocalist Madie Renner forgot her father’s birthday while on tour, the song reflects on the sacrifices that come with life on the road and the importance of slowing down before the things closest to you pass by.
With their upcoming tour supporting UK rock band LEAP and a growing presence within the alternative scene, OUT IN FRONT are proving that ambition and vulnerability can exist side by side. We caught up with the band to talk about the story behind “Medicine,” building a community through live shows, and protecting the DIY spirit that brought them together.
Photo by Jacqueline Day
LUNA: “Medicine” came from a really personal moment after forgetting your dad's birthday on tour. Looking back now, has writing and performing the song changed the way you think about balancing your personal life with chasing your career?
RENNER: Absolutely. I think being on the road makes it really easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind of chasing a dream and forget about the things happening back home. “Medicine” was a reminder that while we’re working so hard to build something for ourselves, we can’t lose sight of the people who matter most along the way. It’s a constant balancing act, and I don’t think we’ve mastered it by any means, but writing and performing this song has made me more aware of how important it is to show up for the people you love, even when life gets busy. At the end of the day, those relationships are a huge part of why we do what we do, and we want to be able to share the dream with them, not miss out on life while chasing it.
LUNA: You all met as tennis coaches before starting OUT IN FRONT. At what point did it stop feeling like friends making music together and start feeling like, “This could actually become something bigger”?
WAGNER: When we first started jamming, it was just a fun project to work on after spending our days together on the tennis court. Even when we first started touring, playing small rooms and figuring everything out as we went, it still felt like we were just having fun making music together. I think the moment it started to feel like something bigger was when people began showing up to those small rooms so early on and telling us how much our music meant to them. Realizing that something we created together could have that kind of impact on someone else made it all feel real, and it gave us a reason to keep pushing for something bigger.
LUNA: Your live shows have become a huge part of your identity. Whether you're opening for LEAP or playing your own sets, what do you hope people remember about an OUT IN FRONT show after they leave the venue?
VOLK: We hope people leave an OUT IN FRONT show feeling the energy, passion and hard work we put into every performance. We sacrifice a lot to make these shows happen, and we give everything we have to create the best experience possible for the people who come out to see us. More than anything, we hope people leave feeling inspired to chase their own dreams, embrace who they are, and know that they have a place where they feel safe, accepted, and understood. We want our shows to be more than just a concert and we want them to feel like a community.
LUNA: You describe “Medicine” as a reminder to slow down and appreciate what’s right in front of you. In the middle of touring, what are the small moments that help keep you grounded?
RENNER: I think a big part of it is exploring new places and reminding ourselves how lucky we are to experience things that most people don't get to experience. Touring can get so hectic that sometimes you forget to take a step back and appreciate where you are and what you're doing. One of my favorite quotes is, “What a privilege to be tired from the work you prayed for,” and I try to remind myself of that whenever things get overwhelming. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress and exhaustion of touring, but then I remind myself that this is the dream we’ve worked so hard for. Seeing family and friends, even if it’s just for a brief moment on the road, means so much to us. We also try to stay connected by calling or texting our families whenever we can. Those little moments help keep us grounded and remind us what really matters.
LUNA: You’ve gone from building everything yourselves to signing with AWAL and touring with artists like Charlotte Sands and LEAP. As your career keeps growing, what parts of OUT IN FRONT are most important for you to protect and never lose?
WAGNER: One of the biggest things we want to protect is the creative freedom to build our own world. We love designing our merch, coming up with new ideas, hiding Easter eggs in our music videos, and finding ways to bring little pieces of ourselves into OUT IN FRONT. Of course the music will always be at the center of everything we do, but we love that this project can extend beyond that and become its own universe that people can connect with. As we grow, we never want to lose that hands-on, DIY spirit or the feeling that every little detail comes from us.
