Whether you are just discovering indie pop or have been a long time listener, you have most likely heard of Dayglow.
Sloan Struble (also known as the indie pop project “Dayglow”) has been releasing music since 2016 and since then, he has gained quite the following. Born in Aledo, Texas, he began his music career at the age of 11 as he taught himself how to play various instruments as well as produce and create music using the app Garageband.
If you go on Spotify and search up anything with the words “indie”, “feel-good”, or “bedroom pop”, his songs will most likely pop up on most of the playlists. His hit track “Can I Call You Tonight?” has over 350 million plays on spotify and is definitely his most popular piece, it having gone viral a few years ago and fans hopping on the Dayglow train not so long after.
Sloan’s music has been described as a blend of alternative and indie pop. He is said to have been inspired by many artists in regards to his own work, such as Michael Jackson, Tame Impala, and The Doobie Brothers.
Last year, he released his second studio album under his current stage identity (he used to release music under the name “kindred”) titled “Harmony House”. After the overwhelming positive traction he gained on his first album, “Fuzzybrain” (2018), “Harmony House” allowed him to continue releasing his music with confidence. The album recieved favorable reviews from critics and was and still is adored by Dayglow fans across the world.
Sloan’s sophomore album gets better every single time that I listen to it. His lyrics flow so well with this sound that he has found for himself, in that they remind audiences of older pop-y love songs like those of George Michael and Bonnie Tyler. This is what makes Dayglow so appealing to a variety of audiences, older and younger. His music exposes young listeners to an earlier sound while keeping with the times while providing a retro and nostalgic air for older ones.
When listening to “Harmony House”, one is reminded of the “cheese of 80’s pop-rock” (as stated by FInlay Holden in an article for Dork Magazine) and is exposed to a sound that lives somewhere between the late 20th century and the early 21st. With the power of synth, the keyboard, and a bit of trumpet, Struble presents us with an eleven-track trip into the world of current and culturally relevant eighties-inspired music.
This new-vintage sound is one of the many things that I love about Dayglow’s music and is why I was pleasantly surprised by a certain post on my Instagram feed.
On Tuesday, June 21st, Dayglow released a new single titled “Then It All Goes Away”. And along with this new song, he announced on Instagram, Tik Tok, and Twitter that he would be releasing a new album on October 7th called “People in Motion”.
Of course, his fans went wild in anticipation for this new release. Dayglow has become such an influential icon for younger generations and has definitely made his mark on the indie music scene.
Personally, I can’t wait for this new release. I’m excited to see what Sloan has been working on since “Harmony House” and how he plans to serenade and surprise us his time. When he released his first single off of HH, people went absolutely wild for his new and improved style. He still kept the same sort of vibe as “Fuzzybrain”, with songs that express confusion with relationships and his attempt to navigate unknown issues, while mixing his sound up a bit.
I’m extremely excited to see what Dayglow has in store for us this fall. Be sure to stream his music on Spotify, iTunes, and Youtube and give “People in Motion” a listen when it debuts on October 7th.
Sofia Wheelock 