If you are looking for a new indie band to add to your playlist, almost monday is the name you could be looking for. Their first record, Dive, which came out on Sept. 25, 2024, via Hollywood Records, features indie pop and indie rock, creating an ultimate summer soundtrack of upbeat instrumentals and catchy hooks. This 11-track album has a beachy tone, making every song like a snapshot of sunny days and late-night drives.
Formed in 2020 with their first-ever extended play Don’t Say You’re Ordinary, almost monday includes Dawson Daugherty on vocals, Cole Clisby on guitar, and Luke Fabry on bass. Their story starts in San Diego’s North County, where all three grew up. Daugherty and Fabry first met in high school and eventually met Clisby through a shared interest in surfing. Daugherty and Fabry went to Point Loma Nazarene University, while Fabry attended the University of California, San Diego. The band initially wanted to call themselves The Mondays, but they decided upon almost monday, and it finally just stuck. It all started with their first single release in 2019, “Broken People,” reaching No. 27 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay charts.
Their new album, teased with singles like “Life Goes By,” “Tidal Wave,” and “She Likes Sports,” was recorded during their 2023 tour with AJR. Other tracks feature production by Simon Oscroft, a name associated with their earlier work alongside other writers such as Dani Poppitt and Tony Ferrari.
Each track from Dive brings something different, whether it’s “Is It Too Late,” an ultimate beachy vibe that moves at a fast tempo with easily relatable lyrics, or “Jupiter,” which reminds me of Tame Impala’s dreamy feeling. Songs like “She Likes Sports” and “Can’t Slow Down” reflect the influences of early 2000s indie bands, while “Tidal Wave” and “Sunburn” are about California summer love, sourced from upbeat rhythms and reflective lyrics.
The final track, “Life Goes By,” is probably the most emotional song, with the most heartfelt lyrics and catchy yet nostalgic chorus.
Alicia Sahatjian, a senior at Arcadia High School (AHS) and long-time fan, shared, “I have listened to them before this debut album. I remember they had a song trending on TikTok around when I was in my sophomore year. I love them so much. If my Spotify suddenly plays them because I listen to my summer playlist, hearing their song tells me it’s 100% summer.”
After hearing them for the first time, sophomore Allison Chen commented, “Safe to say, I think they will make it far. They just have to put their songs and albums out during summer and I can see them trending since their whole vibe seems to be very indie summer-based.”
The band is already making waves in the indie scene, with 1.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 59.5K followers on Instagram. They are also performing on a world tour, reaching almost every continent from Asia to Europe, further cementing their status as one of the hottest up-and-coming bands.
With Dive, almost monday proves they are more than just another indie band; they bring a new kind of sound into the scene. Whether for your summer road trip vibes or simply blasting on the beach, almost monday’s Dive is worth a listen.
