Double Wish seems to be a band founded on dualities. Beyond the Orange County–based project’s composition as a two-piece and the duality referenced in their moniker, Adam Sabolick and Philippe Andre have been honing their unique blend of bright, Tame Impala–esque psych-pop with a dour pop-emo energy since last year’s debut EP Light Split Sparkle. After expanding that release into full-length proportions a few months later, the duo returned at the beginning of May with the first track from their follow-up project, with the Universe Sometimes EP slated for release at the end of June.
Today we’re getting the second sample of that EP, with “Papers” nailing that light/dark balance between its brightly warped post-punk guitar and vocalist Sabolick’s soulful falsetto delivering lyrics about snatching hold of one’s self-composure the moment before everything is about to fall apart. “This song is about intoxicating crutches and how hard it could be to take care of yourself, but finding the strength to do so,” he elucidates. “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.”
Listen to the new song below, and expect Universe Sometimes to arrive June 28 on Hit the North Records (the band will also be playing a release show in Santa Ana that night—find tickets and more info here). Additionally, you can revisit the duo’s “Neighborhoods” performance from Andre’s garage studio here.
