Jon Stancer Finds Wit in the Wreckage on New Album Are We Not Here For Fun?

Alt-rock songwriter Jon Stancer has never shied away from sharp lyricism, but on his upcoming album Are We Not Here For Fun? via Weeeee! Records, he pairs biting commentary with playful irreverence in a way that feels both urgent and refreshing.

Stancer describes the record as “facetious commentary on how we’ve collectively grown numb to shocking and downright appalling behaviour.” It is a diagnosis of our desensitized age, where tragedy, humiliation, and scandal are consumed as quickly as memes on social media. Yet instead of moralizing, Stancer leans into the tension with a wink, using humor and sonic vibrancy to offset the darkness. The result is an album that critiques modern culture while still reveling in the joy of music itself.

Produced alongside Jean Martin (D.D. Jackson, Jesse Zubot), the album expands Stancer’s alt-rock palette with lush and unpredictable textures. Songs weave between sardonic lyricism and bold, colorful arrangements that keep listeners on their toes. Drummer Joshua Van Tassel (Great Lake Swimmers, Donovan Woods) injects each track with dynamic energy. At the same time, Grammy nominee Drew Jurecka (Metric, Alvvays) elevates the record with sweeping strings that tug at the emotional core beneath the satire.

The duality of Are We Not Here For Fun? is its greatest strength. On one level, it offers barbed takes on the bizarre circus of modern life. On another, it celebrates the catharsis of music, proof that even in the face of chaos, rhythm, and melody can be sources of resilience. Stancer is at his best when this tension peaks, where the listener can laugh at the absurdity of it all while still feeling the sting of truth.

As he prepares to tour the record into 2026, Stancer promises shows that reflect the album’s ethos: thought-provoking yet irreverent, brimming with energy, and impossible to ignore. With Are We Not Here For Fun?, he has crafted a record that doesn’t just observe our strange cultural moment; it revels in it, wrestles with it, and ultimately dares us to sing along.

You call the album “facetious commentary.” How do you balance humor with serious themes?

I actually didn’t call the album ‘facetious commentary’. I said that about the title track. I wouldn’t characterize the rest of the record as ‘facetious commentary’ at all. But there’s not much of a trick to balancing humour with serious themes. It just happens as you’re writing. One day you’re in a serious mood and the next day you’re not. Different moods generate different types of songs. 

What role did Jean Martin play in shaping the sonic direction of the record?

A major role. Jean spent a lot of time on the mix. He was totally attentive to every sound, to every note played and sung, to the arrangements, the performances, etc., and he came up with a bunch of interesting and clever sonic ideas that most definitely serve to enhance the overall sound and feel of the record.

How did collaborators like Joshua Van Tassel and Drew Jurecka influence the final sound?

They didn’t, to be honest. They were told exactly what, how and where to play.

Which song on the album best captures the spirit of Are We Not Here For Fun? and why?

I can’t really point to one song for that. I believe all of the songs are equally essential to the spirit of the album. 

What do you hope audiences experience when you bring these songs to the stage?

Enjoyment.