Interview: Peter Pawlak of SPY Talks ‘Seen Enough’
Photo courtesy of Senny Mau
February 21, fans of the Bay Area’s five-piece project SPY, get another dose of hardcore-punk done right. This upcoming EP, Seen Enough, following their most recent release, Satisfaction (2023), offers yet another fast and immediate assault of blistering riffs, pummeling drums, and more of the raw and unyielding energy typical of SPY’s approach to hardcore. Clocking in with six tracks at just around ten minutes, Seen Enough wastes no time, delivering a relentless surge of aggression that feels urgent, cathartic, and entirely necessary.
I caught up with Peter Pawlak via Zoom to talk about Seen Enough, the recording and production processes behind the new EP, and what fuels SPY’s uncompromising sound.
From the start, SPY has never been a band to overstay its welcome. Their songs hit hard, get to the point, and leave an impact without lingering. Seen Enough is no exception, tearing through its six tracks with instinctive precision. When asked about the mindset behind keeping the record so concise, Pawlak explained, “We wanted to do a short record because the last one we did was 10 tracks. Personally, I prefer the format of a short record for this style of music. I just feel like it hits better. For some reason, I love when a record is four to six tracks and just super quick for a hardcore, hardcore-punk record. So we wanted to keep it short, kind of to the point, and we wrote some tracks that made it onto the record.”
That urgency translates not just into song length, but into the way the EP was recorded. Opting for a live-to-tape approach, SPY worked with producer Jack Shirley at Atomic Garden Studios in Oakland, Calif. to capture their energy and unrestrained stage presence as authentically as possible. The process was straightforward with the band wrapping up the entire EP in the first two days, but recording live still introduced its own nuances, preserving the raw spontaneity that defines SPY’s sound.
Pawlak said, “Since we knew it would be live, we also knew there was limited room for error—any mistake meant restarting as a full band. So everyone came in locked in and ready to go, knowing it would be smoother if we were all on the same page from the start.”
Seen Enough doesn’t just sound explosive—it was built that way. The live-to-tape method captures the immediacy of their performance with a stripped-down, all-in-one-room setting. That raw execution makes tracks like “Stay In Your Lane” feel as volatile as a packed hardcore set, where every riff and breakdown lands with the weight of a band that thrives on movement and impact. It’s a bleak but honest perspective—one that refuses to look away.
Lyrically, Seen Enough pulls no punches, reflecting the chaos and frustration of the world around us. The themes of disillusionment and resistance run through every track on the record. When discussing the song’s inspiration, Pawlak described, "This one is about feelings of anxiety, having limited space to operate, and wanting to push people back when they get too close. It’s called ‘Stay In Your Lane,’ which I guess alludes to driving, but it can really apply to anything—people getting in your space, making the wrong moves, and just wanting them away.”
Beyond just the sound, Seen Enough is a record that speaks to the state of hardcore today. While many bands are pushing into heavier, more metallic territory, SPY’s approach remains rooted in something more primal—faster, stripped-down, and deliberately unpolished. That back-to-basics mentality sets them apart, reinforcing their place in a scene that continues to evolve around them.
At its core, Seen Enough isn’t just a release—it’s a statement. The record doesn’t offer solutions, but it doesn’t turn away either. Instead, it channels frustration into something immediate and unshakable. When asked what he hopes listeners take away from the EP, Pawlak put it simply: "I hope people can relate to it. I write pretty broadly about how I feel day to day, and I think that’s something a lot of people connect with. We’re all going through a really strange time, and I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way. Especially within this community—there are so many different people with different beliefs, but there’s still something that holds us together."
Alongside the record, SPY is set to hit the road for a West Coast tour starting February 21. Having played everywhere from intimate DIY spaces to massive venues with hardcore legends and rising peers, the band has no shortage of memorable shows. Looking ahead, there are a few cities they’re especially eager to return to.
Pawlak said, “I’m really stoked to play in Texas—playing in Austin as part of a big day full of cool bands. Trapped Under Ice is headlining, and that’s gonna be insane. There are like a million cool bands on that bill, so that one stands out as really exciting. We’re also playing in Tacoma at Just Another Gig, which we’ve done twice before. This is the sixth one, so that’ll be cool. We really like playing that fest, and I’m excited to see how it’s growing and getting bigger because this one definitely seems like the biggest one yet—it’s three days, new venue and everything. [...] I love playing everywhere in the U.S., obviously, but this run is kind of closer to home and more familiar. I’m stoked.”
Though Seen Enough is just about to drop, SPY isn’t slowing down anytime soon. With a clear vision and a push to keep touring, they already have their sights set on what’s next. Pawlak explained, “Yeah, a lot of it’s been announced, but a lot hasn’t. What’s been announced so far is the Western U.S. dates and a couple of dates in April, like LDB Fest. We’re playing a 25th anniversary weekend for Municipal Waste in Richmond, and then we’re doing some fests in Europe. The fests in Europe are going to have a tour around them with off-day shows in between. In June, we’re doing a bunch of big hard rock and metal fests. We’ve never played Hellfest or Resurrection Fest before, which is kind of crazy. We’ve never done anything like that. That’s gonna be badass—I’m really excited for that. We’re playing with Judas Priest, which is fucking crazy. I imagine we’ll play really early in the day and then just be chilling and watching everything. Then there are a bunch of dates in the spring that will be announced soon.”
As our conversation wrapped up, it became clear that SPY isn’t interested in anything but moving forward on their own terms. Seen Enough is living proof of their ability to cut through the noise and deliver hardcore at its most vital state. Whether on record or on stage, SPY has made one thing clear—they’ve seen enough, and they’re here to make sure you have, too. Catch them on a tour date, near you.