Double Wish, the synth-rock duo of SoCal songwriters Adam Sabolick and Philippe Andre, go for the heartstrings and the jugular throughout their self-titled debut LP. Out today via Hit the North Records, the project is a collection of deeply philosophical wanderings masked as radio-ready bangers. The duo cook up earworms with ease, crafting hooks that recall the mix of heartbreak and joy that comes alongside the end of summer (can you tell I have mixed feelings about the changing season?).
Though Double Wish is a debut, the band has been releasing EPs since 2022. As such, the project is less the beginning of an era than the conclusion of all the work they’ve put in during the lead-up to this full-length. It does, though, come with instructions. “This album was made to be listened to from beginning to end—not just as a collection of songs, but as a shared emotional journey,” the band explains. “Many of these tracks come from deeply personal places: grief, growth, reckless joy, the beauty of friendship. We hope this track by track not only gives you a glimpse into how these songs came together, but inspires you to listen to the record unfold from the first to last track.”
Check out the stories behind the songs below, as well as the songs themselves. You can also stream the album here.
1. “Tattooed Heart”
As soon as the rough concept for this song came together in an impromptu way, sparked by playing around with the MOOG Sub 37, we knew it had to open the album. It starts with a jolt: a stop-and-go rhythm that bursts into a frantic 16th-note drum beat, only to be soothed by delicate, plucked guitar melodies. The vocal melody and lyrics were pulled from an older demo that shared a similar energy, and collaging the two felt seamless. Conceptually, it’s about losing your youth—or, more precisely, the relentless march of time. There's a brief breath in the middle of the song, a momentary slowdown, but it doesn’t last. It jolts back into motion with a dueling guitar riff and laser-like synths. If you’ve ever been on a roller coaster that just shoots you off right from the start, it kinda feels like that—or like breaking the speed of light, á la 2001: A Space Odyssey.
2. “Riptide”
This album is full of intentional pairings, and the transition from “Tattooed Heart” into “Riptide” is one of our favorites. The minimal opening and immediate intimacy of the vocals offer a necessary break after the first track without losing momentum. A simple drum groove—perfectly compressed and a splash of reverb—carries an elastic Vibe 6 melody while raw, chapped vocals sit on top. The first verse feels like a sunburn. The song explores the pursuit of sublime desire, using the ocean as metaphor. We love spending time in the water—swimming and surfing, both of which carry inherent risks when you push your limits. That’s the heart of the song: fearlessly moving toward something even when you know it could hurt. The choruses are explosive, with distorted guitars inspired by late-’90s/early-’00s alt-rock and nu metal. It’s also one of our favorite songs to play live.
3. “Diamond Bridge”
This one began with a straightforward drumbeat and a plucked guitar riff—the exact elements that open the track. The lyrics were inspired by a story from our local community: someone lost at sea for nearly two weeks, who later said the only thing that kept them motivated to survive was the thought of their closest friends. That hope and human connection was inspiring. Sonically, it’s purposefully minimal. Quarter-note drums pulse steadily beneath woozy tremolo guitars. The entire track has a heartbeat, and maybe that’s what subconsciously shaped the lyrics.
4. “Papers”
Originally released on our 2024 EP Universe Sometimes (go check that out if you haven’t—the title track is one of our favorites), “Papers” still holds its own and earned its place here. It’s ambitious in its layered drums—programmed distorted beats sit behind acoustic recorded ones. The song is lyrically unapologetic and raw in a way we really value. They deal with substance abuse and the cycle of trying to resist destructive urges. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t. We didn’t want to shy away from that honesty.
5. “You”
This track came out of a deep dive into video game soundtracks and a desire to break out of our usual guitar-based comfort zones. It was initially conceived as an instrumental, but earlier this year we lost a close friend, Chris, to mental illness. That loss gave the song new meaning. It became a way to grieve, and now it belongs to him. Chris supported us in every way—he came to our shows, bought our records, even let us borrow his gear (his guitar is on “Papers”). We miss him deeply. This is for him and is inspired by his contributions to our community.
6. “Seatbelt (Deeper Ecstasy)”
Also featured as the title track from our 2025 EP Deeper Ecstasy, this song marks a step forward in our aesthetic evolution. It started as a simple jam on bass and drums, and became an anthem about the need for real connection. Social media often masquerades as a support system, but it can just as easily leave us feeling isolated and alone. This song is a call for deeper, IRL relationships and experiences, something grounded and human.
7. “Sunny Sight”
We’ve always been inspired by krautrock, and Can’s Future Days is one of our all-time favorite records. Hypnotic grooves, repetitive basslines, and layered polyrhythms give “Sunny Sight” its meditative pulse. It was also inspired by the paintings of Charles Burchfield, a mid-century abstract landscape artist whose work has a sort of spiritual glow. Go look him up. The track has a long, evolving outro built around a trip-hop beat, layered psychedelia, and a sense of emerging clarity. If this album has twin flames, “Sunny Sight” and “Tattooed Heart” are it.
8. “How Often Do You Think of Me”
This one hits with a thick, soft, head-banging weight. A recurring piano motif slips in and out, but the real anchor is the drum groove, complemented by upstroke acoustic guitar and sharp, angular string synths. The rhythm is steeped in our love for dub and adjacent styles. A melting electric guitar riff opens the track before hushed vocals drift in. The verses are internal thoughts to yourself, while the choruses burst out, admitting shame and desire. The track builds toward a middle breakdown where a synth climbs and climbs until it takes over completely. That build is the emotional apex, before it dissolves into an extended final chorus and a layered, melodic outro—like an emotional afterglow.
9. “Crystal Day”
Stoner-instrumental cavernous jam. This one was a happy accident. After a goal-oriented recording session, we swapped instruments and just started jamming. A simple percussive drumbeat inspired a finger-plucked rhythm guitar, and things got silly fast. We were using drumsticks to pluck an out-of-tune piano, hung a tambourine by a string, and couldn’t stop laughing when we brought out the ocarinas—it invoked the feeling of standing isolated in nature, hearing faint gusts of wind or the call of a bird high above. The entire process was so fun. There’s a lead guitar that was played with a coin, and you can really hear it in the tone. It was silly and chaotic, but also pure. Ultimately, it captured an ethos we believe in: jump in and see what happens. Throw shit at the wall. Nothing’s too precious. You should get stoned and listen to it.
10. “Caught in a Feeling”
This song had multiple lives—three or four versions, each different. The final version is a kind of collage from all those attempts. It has a trip-hop meets Songs From the Big Chair vibe, with a Fripp-inspired fuzzed-out guitar line that accelerates mid-song from pessimism to optimism over a pounding kick. Eventually it combusts into the flames. Lyrically, it’s about not being able to emotionally let go—replaying something in your head again and again because it hurts too much to release. The final chorus is cathartic, anthemic. Then everything fizzles into ash, like finally being able to let go. It’s the perfect closer, and in many ways, a reset for the album’s loop back to track one.
