Oakland-based Day Wave's debut EP Headcase, streaming exclusively on The FADER today ahead of its official release on July 17, is a promising five-song collection of sun-faded, lo-fi indie rock. It sounds dreamy, but a close listen reveals melancholic streaks and relatable lyrics. Opening track "Nothing At All," for example, finds Jackson Phillips wondering: I'm not a kid anymore, I wake up at one/ So what am I good for, besides trying to have fun?.
"In the fall of last year, I moved into a house in Oakland with the idea of starting a new musical project," said Phillips, via an email to The FADER. "I wanted to do something guitar-based, but I didn't play guitar. So I bought a telecaster and learned to play along the way. After experimenting with recording through different tape decks (and listening to a lot of Joy Division), I started to find the sound that would eventually become Day Wave."
Headcase arrives July 17, and you can cop your download early here now. Scroll down for Day Wave's North American tour dates.
Upcoming North American tour dates:
8/4/15 San Francisco, CA @ Phoenix Hotel
8/8/15 San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar – Outside Lands Aftershow
8/19/15 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
9/15/15 Seattle, WA @ Neptune *
9/17/15 Vancouver, Canada @ Imperial *
9/19/15 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom *
9/21/15 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent *
9/23/15 Los Angeles, CA @ Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock *
9/24/15 Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Bar *
* supporting Blonde Redhead
Tickets/more info.