Pop-punk artist Games We Play (aka Emmyn Callerio) has officially announced his highly anticipated new album, I Wish I Never Quit, set for release on September 18th via Nettwerk. Produced by Callerio himself, the record marks a significant turning point in his career, capturing the artist at his most vulnerable as he navigates themes of burnout, identity, and the existential questions that nearly led him to walk away from music entirely.
To celebrate the announcement, Games We Play has shared the lead single, “The Smash.” The track is a blistering, self-aware anthem born from a moment of intense frustration. After being told his nearly finished album required further revisions, Callerio channeled his doubt into a high-energy, guitar-driven composition that serves as a defiant statement of artistic independence.
“I Wish I Never Quit is the first album I can say I wrote all the words to. I’ve always been embarrassed about my writing but I became so detached to this band I’ve been doing my whole life, that I told myself the only way I could make a second album was to write every single word by myself. I’ve never done that, and I’m really proud of it,” says Callerio.
Reflecting on the creation of “The Smash,” Callerio explains that the song was a direct response to external pressure. “I was just so frustrated because I loved the album so much that I wrote this song in response to people not liking how I do things. I was literally realizing throughout the song, as I was writing, why I am doing this. The last line of that song is my favorite line I’ve ever written: ‘I’m going to take my time, and hope that I get lucky.’”
Following a successful run of intimate performances on his Free House Tour, Callerio is set to bring his new material to larger stages this summer. He will join the 2026 Summer School Tour alongside acts like Honey Revenge, South Arcade, Winona Fighter, and Chase Petra, beginning June 19 in San Diego and concluding July 23 in Portland.
I Wish I Never Quit Tracklist:
- A Proper Introduction
- Is This What I’m Made Of
- The Smash
- Silver Lining
- Right Place, Wrong Timing
- This Is A…Song
- The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done
- Enid
- Maybe I’m Right