A LETTER TO HEARTPUNCH 

Now that "DON'T SAVE ME" is finally out - something I still have trouble grasping the reality of - I'd like to take a moment to reflect on how we got here. When Matt approached me about co-founding a "pop-punk side project" back in March 2021, I never could've predicted how much this would end up meaning to me. HEARTPUNCH has been arguably the most important part of my life - a life that has been full of an incredible amount of turbulence and emotional ups and downs throughout these three years. Back in 2021, I had no idea how tough it would get, but also had no idea how comforting having this outlet for my thoughts and ideas, as well as this amazing group of people, would be. Now it's time to thank people.

I'd like to, first of all, thank my family for supporting me in many, many ways throughout this process. I'm not even slightly exaggerating when I say that without them, this album would not have made it out of that studio above a garage. I'd also like to thank my friends, from different countries and walks of life, for being so supportive and impossibly kind to me, the band and our music. They are a big part of the reason I love doing what we do as much as I do - our music making any amount of people happy fills my soul with joy that it's needed pretty desperately over the past year or so. 

I'd like to thank the band, of course, members past and present, for bringing our music to life, for inspiring me creatively, and just for being lovely people. Whatever the circumstances, I love them all. I'd also like to thank our producer Danil for turning the visions that we had for these songs into reality as well as he has done, and also George and the Mediacluster 11/11 studio as a whole. 

But most of all, I'd like to thank Matt. When I agreed to join him in what was a second band, I hoped we'd strike up a good creative partnership. But what actually ended up happening was so far beyond that. He's been my best friend for these few years, but it feels like we've known each other for much longer. It always feels like there's an unspoken understanding between us, both in life and creatively - we don't always agree on things, but we mostly do, and even when we don't, we still understand the other perspective better than it feels like anyone else ever could. And even outside of music completely, he's been there for me through thick and thin over these years, even when thousands of kilometers have separated us. He's genuinely the best friend and collaborator that I could've ever asked for. It has been the biggest honor of my life to work with him on this album, and it is and even bigger honor to continue working with him and calling him my best friend; on the day he sent me that text, I not only gained the band I love, but also a true brother in everything but blood, who I love even more. Here's to lots more work together, and here's to the reunion not being too far in the future. HEARTPUNCH for life.

Tim Strong