Regarding whether the band wants to be called emo, there have been mixed opinions from the members. In an interview with Alternative Press in 2014, lead vocalist Adam Lazzara stated that he felt the term "emo" had become "overused and commercialized," and he preferred to simply refer to the band's music as "rock." However, in a 2021 interview with Kerrang!, guitarist John Nolan acknowledged the band's emo roots and expressed his appreciation for the genre. Ultimately, it seems that while Taking Back Sunday may not fully embrace the "emo" label, they do not shy away from their influence on the genre.