Super Whatevr

Super Whatevr first surfaced in 2016 as an emo-punk four-piece from Orange County, delivering a visceral yet melodic style rooted in the ethos of early-2000s indie rock. Skyler McKee, the group’s singer and guitarist, grew up in northern California and cut his teeth in the local hardcore circuit, contributing to various acts while quietly developing material of his own. He later relocated to Los Angeles and spent time in THRDVSN, where sessions with pop producer Rob Kinelski exposed him to contrasting production approaches that ultimately shaped his writing. After settling in Huntington Beach, McKee encountered an open-minded local scene receptive to stylistic hybrids; a friend urged him to commit his songs to tape, prompting him to assemble a lineup that included guitarist Robert Rutan, bassist Thomas Waale, and drummer Luke Mensink. Bolstered by steady touring, the quartet’s independently issued debut EP Good Luck cultivated a dedicated following and drew the interest of Hopeless Records, which signed the band in 2017 and issued a new version of the EP. Their first full-length release on the label, Never Nothing, appeared at the start of 2018. For the follow-up, Don’t You Wanna Be Glad?, issued in 2020, the members enlisted producer Courtney Ballard, whose prior credits include Good Charlotte and Waterparks.