Surfing for Daisy return with a pulse that refuses to sit still. Their new single “Hot Blood” erupts with the kind of raw, sweat‑slicked energy that turns a crowd into a living organism — a track built for movement, for release, for losing yourself somewhere between the beat and the burn. Born on a porch in Asbury Park and shaped by a sound that slips effortlessly between folk‑rooted intimacy and psychedelic grit, the band now steps into a new era with momentum that feels unstoppable. As they gear up for a landmark performance at Lollapalooza and inch closer to unveiling their sophomore album, “Hot Blood” stands as both a celebration of their roots and a bold ignition of what comes next.
“Hot Blood” has this infectious, dance‑driven energy, even though the lyrics carry more emotional weight. How did you strike that balance between intensity and feel‑good release?
Usually I’m so focused on the lyrical weight rather than the music sometimes, but this song kind of fell together cohesively, where my lyrics were written off the intensity of the actual guitar riffs. The balance came naturally for this one.
You’ve described the track as a nod to your bluesy, raw rock‑and‑roll roots. What elements of your early sound were most important to bring forward on this single?
The roots of our first album definitely had a lot of folky southern rock, blues influences, and for me personally it’s the first few styles of music that always comes naturally to me when writing. I wanted to not only hit on some of those genres, but I also wanted it to have the same raw, live and even imperfect sound of the first album as well.
This is the fourth single from your upcoming sophomore album — what does “Hot Blood” reveal about the larger sonic or emotional arc of the record?
It’s the song that’s going to give our early listeners a lot of joy, but also bridge a gap for some of our newer listeners who enjoy some of the more psychedelic sounds as well. I think it’s a great combination of many styles, and hints at some of our heavier guitar songs.
Your music often moves fluidly between genres. When you were writing this track, did you consciously lean into a specific style, or did it evolve naturally in the room?
I was very much aiming for a swampy, blues infused rock vibe for this song, and I think we nailed that.
The band started on a porch in Asbury Park among friends. How does that origin story still shape the way you write, collaborate, and show up as a band today?
As a band I think we always try to create music that builds a community around us. When we started playing on the porch, we immediately accepted the fact that people were going to hear us play on every corner and that was very liberating for us, considering the writing process is usually very vulnerable. I try to hone in on that vulnerability still.
You’ve played massive stages recently — Sea.Hear.Now, a sold‑out Stone Pony show, and now Lollapalooza. How has performing for larger and larger crowds influenced your confidence or creative direction?
The bigger the stages, the more excited we get. Of course, there are nerves that come with it, but we welcome those feelings with open arms and build a lot of confidence when we play to larger crowds that don’t know us.
“Hot Blood” was crafted to make people loosen up and get lost in the music. What does that sense of release mean to you personally, especially in contrast to the heaviness of the lyrics?
Some songs call for lyrical depth, other songs call for more musical prowess, some call for both. Being able to write a song that was focused more on musicality was very liberating for us, and we were able to hone in on the groove so much better.
Your upcoming Lollapalooza set is a huge milestone. How are you approaching that performance, and what can fans expect from your time on the BMI Stage?
The BMI stage for many up and coming artists has been a turning point in their careers. We’re going to treat our performance as such, and plan on bringing as much explosive energy as possible. At the end of the day, we’re going to perform the way we always do; with a lot of heart and soul, as well as raw and intense emotion. We hope to connect with our fans on an emotional level at Lolla, even those who may be new listeners.
Your sound blends alternative folk rock, psychedelia, and raw rock energy. What artists or eras have been inspiring you most during the creation of this new album?
To preface, as a six piece band we have a lot of different musical tastes on our plate. For this album specifically, I for one was very infatuated with a lot of the newer English/Irish rock bands like Fontaines DC and Wunderhorse, but I also listened heavily to Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles, as well as Led Zeppelin and the Stone Roses. I would say this album is an even braver statement than our first, because every song is completely different, and I think that our wide range of musical influences helped guide us.
Touring throughout the year can be both exhilarating and exhausting. How do you stay grounded and connected to each other while constantly moving from city to city?
We have always been a family from the very beginning, and to be completely honest, I think we feed off of each other’s energy very well. We not only play music with each other, but we talk to each other about everything and anything, supporting each other all the way through. It helps that a lot of us grew up with each other as well, so even when we’re away we still feel at home with one another.
As you build momentum toward the album release, what has been the most surprising or affirming moment for the band so far?
The most affirming thing for us is the constant growth of new fans from all over the world. We have a great community in Australia, Canada and the UK. It really drives us forward, because we know that there are people from all over that love and appreciate the music, as well as the community we built. All we need to do is just get out there, and keep going. We want to play to as many people as we can and we truly love meeting fans and building a connection with them. That’s been by far the coolest and most affirming thing for us.
If listeners walk away from “Hot Blood” with one feeling or message, what do you hope it is — and why does that matter to you at this point in your journey?
Hot Blood was truly created for people to enjoy sonically, to let loose and just groove on the music as well as the energy created from the music. But, if there was a message that Hot Blood could give to someone, I would think it would be to not take life too seriously. We’re not here long enough to spend our days stressed and unhappy. Go out and enjoy as much of the world as you can, spend time with good people and take chances. It doesn’t all have to be perfect, just as long as you keep moving forward and enjoying life. This is the same mentality we put into Hot Blood, so we hope it does inspire people.
