Double Wish share new single "Papers" from their upcoming 'Universe Sometimes' EP Out June 28 via Hit the North Records.
Orange County-based dark-sunshine-pop duo, Double Wish, the project of Adam Sabolick and Philippe Andre, today share their new single, "Papers". It follows on the heels of "Periwinkle Pantone", which found support at international media outlets, arriving as the second track to be lifted from their forthcoming EP, Universe Sometimes, out via Hit the North Records on June 28.
Released on the day of their largest headline show to-date – a homecoming performance at The Constellation Room, Santa Ana – the new body of work trails last year's acclaimed debut EP, Light Split Sparkle which found support at KCRW, KEXP, and more.
Speaking about the new single, Sabolick says:
"This song is about intoxicating crutches and how hard it could be to take care of yourself, but finding the strength to do so. It’s about self-control slipping away, but snatching it full handed at the last second. It’s about overcoming failure with courage and humility — hitting rock bottom but bouncing back."
The song opens with underlying Juno-synth textures before breaking into a full-band melodic melancholy guitar riff that gets balanced out with a bouncy synth line.
Together, these sounds and melodies create fast pace running movement. As the vocals kick in, the song paints a picture of moving through space in a hallucinogenic way, creating the sort of memory one may have after a heavy night of drinking. When the chorus hits, the music gets pulled back as the lyrics profess self-reflective notions of regret and clarity before breaking into a full beat and bass-guitar driven melodies. The song ends in a victorious guitar solo, overlayed with projecting group vocals.
Double Wish searches for a middle point within a vast array of influences taken from everything between The Roches, Underworld, Smashing Pumpkins, Laraaji, Third Eye Blind, Röyksopp, Cocteau Twins, and more.
This new four-track collection expands upon the band’s guitar driven alt-dream-pop vernacular by infusing their sound with hypnotic trances, deep melodic bass synth, sparkly guitar tones, groovy beats, and their signature airtight production. This collection of songs confronts lyrical themes of time, friendship, mortality, and desire.
Universe Sometimes finds Double Wish pushing themselves musically, lyrically and also in terms of how they approach songwriting. Casey Lagos (Cold War Kids) stepped in to help on "Periwinkle Pantone" allowing the band with a different perspective in the studio.
Tracks like "Floating", which have featured in live sets for a while now, tap into a thicker, darker synth-pop textures while the EP-titled 9-minute closer finds the duo edging into some of their most experimental writing to-date, unafraid of time constraints or having to stick to a traditional song format.
EP opener, "Floating" balances themes of desire and belonging against a heady backdrop.
"It’s about pushing to get your way, and getting everything you could possibly ask for, but it still not being enough,"
says Adam.
"It’s about chasing things you may not ever obtain, but continuing the pursuit regardless of failures or successes."
Universe Sometimes presents a more assured, refined version of Double Wish. It's a leveling, up of sorts, on the groove indebted psych-rock presented with their 2023 effort, Light Split Sparkle; taking the muscular sounds of "Sugary Plum" and "Fever Dream", rewiring them and digging further into the essence of those songs, honing the focus to present something more astute and confident with an emphasis on the songwriting. The new EP also marks the first of two EPs set for release this year with another collection slated for fall.