Anderson, Indiana 4-piece The Ataris released “Car Song” on May 1st. It will be on the band’s first album since 2007. Recorded organically using vintage tones and brought to life through the warmth of analog tape, this heartfelt track is dedicated to frontman Kristopher Roe’s father, a lifelong supporter of the band, who passed away in 2014. He says, “My dad was always the biggest supporter of The Ataris. He was a regular on our original website’s message board, sending out VHS bootlegs of live sets he would film and interacting with everyone—everyone knew him. He truly lived and breathed our music. When I saw an article a few years back about a place that would press a loved one’s ashes into vinyl, I immediately knew—that’s what I’m going to do. What better way to celebrate my father’s life than to make him an actual physical part of the music he always supported and encouraged me to create?” In honor of his father’s memory, who passed away from complications related to alcoholism, a portion of the profits from the “Car Song” 7-inch release will be donated to Shatterproof, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending addiction. Donations from the 7-inch release will benefit Shatterproof through 2025 and 2026, supporting their mission to help individuals and families struggling with substance use disorders. An iconic vehicle—literally—inspired the band’s return to the studio. Roe, a longtime fan of Breaking Bad, was given the opportunity to purchase the Volvo driven by Bryan Cranston’s character, Walter White, in the series finale. “I like to say that Walter White’s Volvo was the key to recording ‘Car Song’ and starting this album,” Roe says with a laugh. “A friend who worked on the show wanted to sell the Volvo to a fan. Since Breaking Bad is one of my favorites, I bought it. There was even a receipt left in the glovebox signed by Bryan Cranston as Walter White!” The Ataris had a massive breakthrough in 2003 with “In This Diary”, “The Saddest Song”, and their gold-certified cover of “The Boys of Summer”. The Ataris will play at Riot Fest in September and on the main stage at Aftershock Festival in October.