The rock band Endless Interstate is releasing its third CD, “New Fire,” on March 24.

Fans will hear more songs shaped by lyrics that capture the human experience plainly and sincerely, and music that punctuates emotion with every guitar and mandolin riff and driven by amazing percussion work.

Musician-songwriter Chris Muccino and musician-singer-songwriter Matt Sampson are the soul of Endless Interstate. As a collaborating team they are well-suited; each complements the other naturally, kind of like they were destined to meet and make music together.

Joked Muccino, “We've been writing songs since we were born.”

“It kinda seems like that sometimes, don't it?” replies Sampson.

The two start laughing.

The team of Muccino and Sampson has been around since their Liquid Daydream years (1990-2002), for which they were the primary songwriters. Liquid Daydream had a huge following in Maine, and Endless Interstate is well on its way. Another member of Liquid Daydream, drummer Jordan Warsky has moved his drum kit in with the new band that also includes musicians Chuck Benton, Dan Bodmer and Tyson Soule.

In 2011, Sampson and Muccino released the first Endless Interstate CD, all songs written by the newly reconnected duo. After 'Daydream' disbanded, they didn't see each other again – until New Year’s Eve at a local club ... that year fate brought them back together again.

“We talked a lot about what direction we wanted a new band to go in,” Muccino said. “We wanted something new that was more acoustic-based.”

The name Endless Interstate came from Sampson.

“Well, it's like music is this endless interstate; there's always a new road to take, another song to write … it's endless,” Sampson said.

The two played all of the instruments on that first CD — Sampson on congas, bongos, Djenibe, acoustic guitar, mandolin, harp and other percussion; Muccino on acoustic and electric guitars, bass, percussion and orchestral sounds. The CD was recorded and mixed by Muccino in his home studio.

“Roadsigns,” the second Endless Interstate CD, was released in 2013 and featured two other musicians, Tom Ducette on bass and Jordan Warsky on drums joined by Ryan Zoidis on sax (for the single “Miles”), Chuck Benton on keyboards, Mykk Rankin on bass, and background vocalist Jandee Lee Porter (for the single, “World”).

The pre-production tracks for “New Fire” were laid down by Muccino and Sampson from their homes in Bath and Wiscasset, respectively. This was a different approach to songwriting than they usually employed. They only got together in the same space a couple of times during that process.

“A lot of times it takes time to flesh out a song,” Muccino said. “When I come up with a riff, sometimes it takes an hour to write a song, sometimes it takes months and other times I collaborate with Matt.”

“It [different approach] was mostly just due to life,” Sampson said. “We both have the same [recording] equipment so Chris would send me music, I'd listen to it and the words would just pop into my head. I'd sing, create vocals to perform, send it back to Chris. He'd put in a guitar piece … it was a different creative process.”

“New Fire” was recorded at Bulkhead Studio from October 2013 through December 2014 by Anthony Gatti.

Muccino went to the studio in Scarborough once a week. Sometimes alone, and sometimes with Warsky to lay down some drums and acoustic guitar, then another week lay down some electric guitar, and so on. Tyson and Chuck both came in and recorded parts for the CD as well as longtime friend and local musician Josh Robbins who plays bass on “New Fire.”

“Scratching the Surface,” was the first song released as a single on this new CD and is a favorite of Sampson's.

“We're always making discoveries in life, there's always something to learn, always something new to discover,” Sampson said.

The keyboards, guitars riffing, and then the soulful voice of Sampson, backup vocals, percussion in the background, starting slow and easy, then growing into a bigger, full sound. The guitar soloing is fabulous – winding its way through the song, a metaphor for ongoing discoveries.

“We're just scratching the surface trying to figure it out … We're just starting to uncover the answers to what this is really all about.”

“What I Recall,” is a favorite of both Muccino and Sampson. First the strumming rhythm guitar, then the cymbals … and then the harp (harmonica) and full complement of sound.

“There's a lot of history between us, enough for a book or two … There are some things that I choose to forget that I wish weren't true … There's a lotta holes in my story, there's not much there but you … but I remember you... Those are memories I'm fond of ... I will never forget … I remember you …. Those days are gone not forgotten … And I remember you … That is what I recall.”

The musicians in this band are as versatile as they are talented — and their sound is tight.

Until the CD release on March 24 at Bull Moose Records in Brunswick — and at iTunes and other online venues — you can hear “What I Recall” on YouTube, and on the band's Facebook page and website www.endlessinterstate.com.

On April 5, Endless Interstate will be one of the featured bands on WBLM's (102.9 on your FM dial) “Greetings From Area Code 207,” a program featuring Maine bands performing original work.

During the week of April 6 the band will also be featured on WCSH 6’s “207” program and a CD release party at Empire in Portland will be held on Friday, April 10, with Doubting Gravity. Check the band’s website for other dates.

What's next

Endless Interstate already has one song completed for the fourth CD … down the road. “Pieces” is a heartfelt song that will bring to mind people you have deeply loved and lost.

“Losing someone is the hardest thing in life, it's like losing a part of your heart … Finding pieces is gonna take some time, but I'll always be torn apart.”

Warsky posted it on YouTube on shared by the band on YouTube on January 27. Over the next seven days, it was viewed by 56,512 people, shared by 406, liked by 308.

“Pieces,” and the tunes from “New Fire,”  will be performed by the band on Pier 1 in Boothbay Harbor this summer. Endless Interstate plays Mine Oyster May 30 (full six piece band), July 23 and August 27 (both 'Acoustic Thursday' shows); and at Herringbones on July 25 and August 22.