Homeschool Is in For A "Drop-Dead Summer" With New Wave-Inspired Single
Indie rock-pop project Homeschool is back! Fueled by summery synth patterns and poppy instrumentation, the Brooklyn-based project helmed by Tom D'Agustino offers a unique blend of introspective lyrics and catchy melodies. The new single, "Drop-Dead Summer" sees the artist wrestle with the bittersweet realization of getting older while still clinging to what remains of their youth.
The track opens with a collection of new wave, retro-inspired synths, ethereal vocal harmonies, and light percussion led by snaps and shakers. Then, the song switches gears, adding booming, foreboding drums, thrumming bass lines, and edgy guitar riffs. D'Agustino's haunting yet rich vocals croon over the brewing production, "Go to bed / You won't survive a night like this / Not because it's crazy / Just because you're getting older." He continues to grapple with his mind and his heart, hanging on to the distancing feeling of who he once was and wanting things to be better than they are. This existentialism leads to a climatic chorus where he waxes poetic to the ether, "I gotta drift away and drown my sorrow/ I'll still get brunch with you tomorrow/ And I don't wanna be a bummer/ But the news is saying it's a drop-dead summer," stuck on the feeling that something is definitely wrong.
"'Drop-Dead Summer' tries to put into words a foreboding feeling that comes with getting older and the start of another summer," shares Homeschool. "Clinking glasses of pink wine, droning on about politics or love or money. You're still trying to hang onto the fun and spontaneity of your teens and twenties, but you can't quite shake the feeling that your life, dreams, and pursuits are each slowly melting under an aging, blazing sun."
Outside of the new release, Homeschool is currently working on a singles series this summer and fall with unique songs that span production styles and genres to explore the different corners of their artistry. From new wave-inspired synth-pop to indie folk to garage rock, D'Agustino wants to ensure his project constantly experiments and pushes the edges of what they can pull off creatively.
Listen to "Drop-Dead Summer" below: