Ears Wide Open: Tiny Stills

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Tiny Stills
Tiny Stills

The standout factoid about pop-punk quartet Tiny Stills is that their first album, 2014’s “Falling Is Like Flying,” was inspired in part by singer-songwriter Kailynn West having been robbed at gunpoint. As creative triggers go, it’s gotten easier for West, whose current lineup includes Harry Foster, Zach Comtois and Tony Thaxton.

West’s relationship songs come crunchy, sweet and audacious, and the next batch of them — the album “Laughing Into the Void” — is out June 1. The new single is more angular than some of Tiny Stills’ other works, perhaps owing to the fact West co-wrote the tune with Anthony Raneri (of Bayside) and Steve Soboslai (of Punchline). “We wanted to write a song about how being in love can really disguise problems in a relationship that need to be addressed,” West says. “Sometimes by the time you figure it out, it’s too late and the relationship is unsalvageable. Sometimes love can trick you into thinking everything is fine, but in your gut you know something isn’t working.”

As for “La La,” we’re suckers for a power-pop song with whistling. Especially if, as West says, it’s “a reminder that it’s OK to just be yourself.”

||| Stream: “Colorblind” and “La La”

||| Also: Watch the video for “When I’m With You”

||| Live: Tiny Stills celebrate their album release with a show May 31 at the Hi Hat, joined by Sundressed and Blushh. Tickets.