Blame My Youth is Sean Van Vleet – a name you might not be aware of, but have unknowingly heard in your headphones, a store or on a television. As a former principal songwriter in indie faves Empires, Van Vleet expanded into the world of songwriting and syncs, providing music for major artists, ads and products worldwide. Blame My Youth is Van Vleet’s return to the band format with “Right Where You Belong,” appearing on the Bill & Ted Face the Music soundtrack and a debut EP due this Autumn via Big Loud Rock imprint.

“Right Where You Belong” is an infectious and propulsive track built with an amalgam of traditional instrumentation ranging from synths to guitars and on. Dripping with pop
sensibility, “Right Where You Belong” is nothing if not grand in scope and massive in execution, nodding to everything from Funeral-era Arcade Fire bombast to classic U2’s earworm singles to Andrew WK’S ascendant style. It’s the sort of single that creeps in, latches on and has you humming along by the time the track comes to a close – nevermind all of the times you’ll hit “repeat” afterwards.

Sean Van Vleet came up in Empires, a Chicago based indie band with several successful releases, an appearance on The Late Show and massive festival appearances like Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and more during tours with Death Cab for Cutie, Deerhunter, Alkaline Trio and others. After Empires called it quits in 2015, he connected with friend Josh Ocean (NVDES) to build an impenetrable musical bond that has seen their explosive “laptop punk” find its way into placements amongst the likes of Samsung, Google and Apple iPhone advertisements.

The Big Loud Rock venture was built in much the same manner, creating the imprint via personal and musical bonds forged with Seth England, Craig Wiseman and Joey Moi during his time in Empires.