On this episode of idobi Warped Radio, we sit down with Will Pugh of Cartel as the band celebrates the 20th anniversary of their iconic debut album, Chroma. Pugh takes us deep behind the scenes of the re-recording process, sharing why the band chose to completely reimagine the album rather than opt for a standard remaster. He opens up about revisiting certain lyrics and songs two decades later and the meaningful changes they made this time around.

We also dive into Cartel’s vault of old sessions and demos to find out if fans might hear any previously unreleased material in the near future. Pugh reflects on how different the re-recording experience was compared to the lightning-fast original sessions, which famously took just eight days, and whether the process added a sense of pressure to “follow up” Chroma all over again.

Later in the episode, Pugh discusses collaborating with Cassadee Pope (previously of Hey Monday) on re-recorded versions of “Q&A” and “Minstrel’s Prayer,” as well as the band’s conscious choice to mirror the original single rollout with “Honestly” and “Lucky St.” We look ahead to Cartel’s upcoming anniversary tour this fall, where they’ll share the stage with rising artists like Landon Conrath, HUNNY, and Macseal, and explore how these shows will differ from past album plays.

Finally, Pugh takes us back to the Vans Warped Tour in DC and Long Beach, where Cartel performed for the first time in nearly 20 years. He shares how it felt to reconnect with old friends and how revisiting Chroma has shaped the band’s future.

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