2018 found Spirit Animal—singer Steve Cooper, guitarist Cal Stamp, drummer Ronen Evron, and bassist Paul Michel—earning fans so rabid that many got tattoos of the band’s lyrics. Their debut album Born Yesterday had struck a chord and they toured relentlessly behind it, supporting bands as diverse as Fitz & the Tantrums, Incubus, The Struts, and Theory of a Deadman.

“We thought we wouldn’t be heavy enough for Theory’s audience. And with Fitz & the Tantrums, we worried we’d be too heavy,” explains Cal. “But we found out it doesn’t matter. Just because we have big, loud guitars doesn’t mean Fitz fans can’t dance to our record and have a good time, and just because we have dance beats doesn’t mean the Theory fans can’t relate either.”

That range on stage follows a clear pattern of Spirit Animal intentionally eschewing traditional genre-boxing. “Something special happens when you dump a bunch of genres into a blender and just let it rip,” says Cal. “We want our songs to move in unexpected directions.”

As the record continued to gain traction, the opportunity for a reboot and re-imagination arose. Hence REBORN YESTERDAY, the result of a partnership between Swagger State University (the band’s imprint) and RED Music. Fan favorites remain, including the single “YEAH!” and all other original tracks, but two new songs—“HYRD8” and “Arm Candy”—were added, plus a stripped-down acoustic take on “YEAH!”

It’s been satisfying for Spirit Animal to see the broadness of their appeal, watching their risks turn into rewards. The September 2019 release of REBORN YESTERDAY isn’t risky; rather, it’s another boldly creative move for this young band. With a fresh and somewhat unpredictable approach, Spirit Animal are proving the adage, “play it and they will come.” As Steve concludes: “In this game, anything’s possible. Our music shows that.”