Culture Wars are at a pivotal moment in their ascent. Fresh from a run of sold-out shows and a monster showing at the O2 Islington Academy last week, the alt-rock five-piece are riding high following the release of “In The Morning” — a track that finds its power in vulnerability, reflection, and the kind of emotional clarity that only comes with growing up.

We caught up with the band to discuss the emotional maturity that defines their upcoming album, the challenges of navigating an industry full of what they describe as “booby traps.” and of course, their FAULTs.

FAULT Magazine: What reflective headspace were you in during the writing session on “In The Morning”?
Culture Wars: I actually consciously feel myself growing up lately, I think this song is a piece of that. Looking back on how I saw every moment in my 20s as life and death, as desperation. I wrote the song as my former self.

FAULT Magazine: How did writing from the perspective of your “former self” influence the emotional honesty of the track, and did revisiting that version of you shift anything in your current creative process?
Culture Wars: I think it allowed me to just write and not worry about what other people thought. I could essentially write as another person, because I was no longer “there”.

FAULT Magazine: You’ve described “In The Morning” as a turning point. What specifically changed in the mix or production that recalibrated how you hear the direction of the album?
Culture Wars: I jokingly told Caleb to make it sound big like we were back in the Philippine Stadium again, which he nailed. I think the song itself is more simplistic which allows all the space to be filled up and feel bigger. To me, it’s a sound that I think we’ve been slowly edging towards over time and now has gotten us to think differently about the mixing of the rest of the album.

FAULT Magazine: When you think about the rawness and vulnerability in “In The Morning,” how does that emotional tone carry over into the rest of the upcoming album?
Culture Wars: I think it more so carries over to where the writing has developed over time. You’ll see with the back half of the album (more recently written) more self-aware, (I think) more mature takes on myself and my past.

FAULT Magazine: Creatively, what felt different about making this song compared to earlier releases?
Culture Wars: Hmmm… I’d say it’s just more in line with how the more recent songs have been going, where the band does its thing and the recordings come very natural and easy to everyone.

FAULT Magazine: With such strong live momentum right now, how are your headline shows influencing the energy or direction of the new material you’re creating?
Culture Wars: I just think it’s giving us more confidence to make the right decisions in the moment. Trust our gut and push forward. We definitely do think of the music now through the lens of wanting to play it live, and also knowing that if it’s good, and it makes the record (and the record continues to be successful) that we’ll be stuck playing it for a long time, so we want to be intentional about everything.

FAULT Magazine: What part of your artistic identity do you feel is coming into sharper focus as you move toward releasing your debut album, and what part is still in flux?
Culture Wars: I think the creative process and artistic identity should always be in flux. Should always be challenging yourself. I think we’re just growing and getting more confident in being ourselves. It’s tough putting out music and dealing with all the internet’s rage, but when you catch a stride it feels great.

FAULT Magazine: What has been the greatest challenge of your musical journey so far?
Culture Wars: The industry. The music industry in general is a set of booby traps. You have to be very, very hard-nosed and focused.

FAULT Magazine: What is your FAULT?
Culture Wars: Most of the time, I’m so focused on the goal and the “win” that my personality wants to push through. For the band and my bandmates’ sake, I’m trying to always learn more finesse and taking a step back to think.