Half a decade following the launch of their acclaimed debut full-length album, S.A.D., which garnered praise from KEXP, Seattle Music Insider, Raised by Cassettes, and Dan’s Tunes, Weep Wave makes a compelling return. Marking a new chapter in their trajectory, the band presents a cosmic shift in vision, fresh faces, and a brand-new album titled Speck. In this kaleidoscopic record - produced by Dylan Wall (Great Grandpa, Tangerine, Hibou, Versing, Scarves) at Hills Studio in Seattle and mastered by the legendary Jack Endino (Mudhoney, Nirvana, Soundgarden, L7, Mark Lanegan) - the band embarks on a sonic odyssey through the diverse genres they proudly call home. Across the dynamic eleven tracks, the journey unfolds: from churning post-punk in "Alternate Reality" to James Murphy-esque electro dance vibes in "Slow Collapse," from thrashing garage beats in "Phasing" to surfy psych undertones in "Surrender," and the haunting slow dirge of "Never Wake Up." With Dylan Fuentes at the helm, and the rhythmic tandem of Mitch Midkiff on bass and Miles Hubbard on drums, Weep Wave unveils their tightest sound and lineup yet.
Fuentes' lyrical prowess oscillates between two contrasting realms, either projecting outward to explore broad concepts like the perils of capitalism and climate change, or plunge inward to scrutinize the self. His forte lies in dissecting the ego and self-identity. Lead single “Rebirth Mantra” is one of those moments. Amidst a pummeling riff, Fuentes unravels his fears of falling into the same patterns that have failed him before. In this introspective journey, he envisions a transformed version of himself—one that is "cool, calm, collected" and "present without fear." It's a manifestation, conjuring a more courageous, caring, and empathetic self, free from hesitation. It's a spiritual rejuvenation, a resonant chord that strikes a universal note, reminding us all of the quest for a better version of ourselves. Fuentes has this to say about the song:
“‘Rebirth Mantra’ is a song about what kind of person you want to be if you had a chance to start things over again. A big theme in the album is that everything repeats and tries to manifest the version of life that you want to actually want to live within these cycles. Going into the studio, we didn't expect this song to turn out to be one of the strongest songs on the album.”
Things have been busy for the band since the end of the pandemic. Since 2021, they’ve played with a long list of notable names including Los Bitchos, Blackwater Holylight, Gustaf, The Bobby Lees, Godcaster, Habibi, ReignWolf, and Spirit Mother. They’ve also performed at esteemed festivals Treefort Music Festival, Capitol Hill Block Party, South Sound Block Party, and Off Beat Music Fest. Weep Wave released a new EP and multiple singles in that time, one of which was featured as KEXP's "Song of the Day". On top of it all, they’ve done multiple tours down the West Coast and performed various times in NYC.