Hailing from Sweden, the indie duo sad dad is formed by musicians John Dahlbäck and Erik Ljungqvist, who together, pull listeners into their dreamy soundscapes via a fusion of indie pop, dream pop, surf rock and shoegaze stylings. Influenced by the likes of Beach Fossils, DIIV, Slowdive, carwash and Alvvays, the duo creates an original sound built on reflective lyrics and alluring melodies that seeks to take you on an immersive sonic journey.
The pair first made their entrance in March last year with their debut single “snowstorm” which they’ve followed up with multiple new songs and alternative versions of their tracks, a result of their innovative approach which aims to cast each of their creations under a different light. Quickly proving themselves as a prolific creative force, this year they’ve already dropped the track “dream on” as well as its paired alternate rendition.
Now they bring us their latest release with their brand new single titled “morro bay,” the lead single from their upcoming debut record and a song that was heavily influenced by the Alvvays Blue Rev record which sees sad dad lean into a more danceable side of their sound. Written, recorded and produced entirely by the duo themselves in their home studio, “morro bay” is a song that they penned about the struggles in ending a relationship with a friend.
Opened by a hazy lo-fi fade in of sonic textures, the song takes off with the gentle snap of drums, pulsing bass lines and soft twang of guitar tones. The lead vocal glide in to thread smooth melodies carrying poignant lyricism via an airy delivery that floats with elegant falsetto, resulting in a charming indie rock sound cut with pop-focused writing and wrapped up in a dreamy aesthetic.
With graceful rise and fall between the subtly punchy rhythm of the verse and the blissful melodies and intricate arrangement of the chorus, the song breaks down to sparse guitar notes hovering in a reverb-drenched sea before serving up the final shimmering chorus. It’s a truly delightful indie pop bop that’s catchy, meaningful and builds the hype for the band’s forthcoming debut album set to drop towards the end of next month.
Paired with the single is a self-produced music video that sees the pair craft a lighthearted offering to perfectly reflect the bright and breezy sound of the song. Donning a zebra face mask, the character of the video is shot in a snow covered woodland, bathed in the head lights of the ca that took him there, creating an abstract and slightly surreal visual accompaniment for the single.
Watch the music video for morro bay below
More from Music
New music from Serge & The Currents
Melbourne-based musician Sergio Ercole has spent more than four decades building a life around the guitar, moving between classical and …
IRONA releases new single “Marble White”
From New York to London, IRONA is an Istanbul-based artist whose music takes inspiration from a sense of place while …
Shumo AG releases brand new single
Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Shumo AG is developing a musical world that stretches far beyond his young age. Balancing school …
