From Scrappy Beginnings to Worldwide Tours: Derek Sanders Opens Up About Mayday Parade’s New Era of Independence

December 11th, 2025

Nearly two decades after Mayday Parade emerged from the Tallahassee scene, Derek Sanders still speaks about the band with the same spark he had when he was nineteen, loading gear into small Florida clubs and dreaming of becoming a “real band.” Before Mayday Parade even had a name, Sanders and his eventual bandmates were playing in two local Tallahassee groups, A Kid Named Chicago and Defining Moment, learning from the energy of a supportive community and hoping their next project would finally click.

“When we got together, it just felt right,” Sanders says. “We had played in local bands that had some success, but we wanted to tour. We wanted to make this a real thing.”

For Sanders and the rest of the group, that commitment required a leap of faith. “We didn’t go to college. We said, ‘Let’s give this a shot,’ without knowing what to expect.”

A lot has changed since those early days. The band has toured internationally, released acclaimed records and earned a devoted fanbase. Sanders’ perspective has stayed grounded even as the stages grew larger.

“We never expected this to turn into a full career,” he says. “Back then we just wanted to tour, write songs and see how far we could take it. When things really started picking up, it felt like magic. It felt like something out of a movie.”

That momentum carried them from van tours across the Southeast to global stages. Sanders still remembers what those first steps felt like, including school events, birthday parties and eventually real venues such as The Thunderdome, a small concrete room that meant everything to young musicians who dreamed of more. “The local scene was incredible. There were so many talented people and everyone supported each other.”

What has shifted over time is the way the band releases music. Their recent multi-part project, Sweet / Sad, marks a major return to independence. Sanders describes the change with a mix of excitement and honesty.

“When you are on a label, everything feels like a shared endeavor. Someone else helps push the release, bring ideas and handle the behind-the-scenes work,” he says. “Doing it independently again puts all of that on our shoulders. It is challenging, but after 20 years we wanted to do something different. We wanted to push ourselves.”

Their creative path reflects that same mindset. Mayday Parade built their identity on emotional, often heartbreak-driven songwriting paired with pop-punk and emo foundations. As the members grew older, their writing grew with them. Albums like Black Lines introduced heavier textures and more experimental ideas while still honoring the heart of what fans connected to.

“I was basically a kid when we started,” Sanders says. “As you get older, your tastes change. We have always leaned into emotional songwriting, but I am almost 40 now. At some point you can only write about teenage heartbreak for so long.”

At the same time, he knows the importance of honoring the band’s roots. “With Black Lines we learned that there is a middle ground. You can push the sound forward without abandoning what people love. That is where we are now.”

Authenticity remains central to Sanders’ writing. It is more than a creative tool. It is a way to process life.

“It has always been therapeutic for me,” he explains. “Writing helps me understand how I feel about things. We try to keep everything as real as possible and hope people connect with it in whatever stage of life they are in.”

Fans have grown alongside the band. Many discovered Mayday Parade as teenagers and now return with families, careers and responsibilities that mirror the evolving themes of the music. Seeing that shift from the stage reminds Sanders how lasting their impact has become.

Certain places make that impact even more vivid. Tokyo remains a dream location for a surprise show. “We love Japan. We would go back in a heartbeat.” Yet it is New Jersey that consistently delivers the strongest crowd connection. “The Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park is incredible. The energy there is unmatched.”

Florida continues to feel like home, even if Tallahassee does not always draw the largest crowds. Sanders calls it a “B-market” for live music, but shows in Orlando, Tampa, St. Pete, Fort Lauderdale and Miami always feel memorable. “Florida crowds bring a different kind of energy.”

That energy will matter even more as the band approaches 2027, which marks the 20-year anniversary of their breakout album A Lesson in Romantics. Sanders hints that the milestone will be celebrated in a meaningful way.

“It will be a big moment for us. We will be touring and possibly releasing new music around it. We do not have all the details yet, but there is a lot to look forward to.”

Before that celebration arrives, fans can expect the final installment of the Sweet / Sad trilogy. Part Three was recorded only a few months ago and is set for release in the first half of 2026.

“I honestly think it might be the strongest of the three,” Sanders says with a quiet confidence.

For a band approaching its twentieth year, that confidence carries weight. Their story may have begun in cramped Tallahassee rehearsal rooms and small local venues, but the next chapter carries the same passion that fueled their beginning. Experience has only sharpened their perspective and strengthened their commitment.

If Sanders’ excitement is any indication, Mayday Parade is not slowing down. They are gearing up. Sweet / Sad may signal a return to independence, but it also marks a band more self-assured than ever.