According to news on Monday, "Dari Bay — the Burlington, VT-based project of Zack James — announces their signing to Double Double Whammy. Today, they share the new single/video, 'Interstate,' taken from the expanded reissue of their 2023 album, Longest Day of the Year, out digitally today and on vinyl January 23rd via Double Double Whammy."
"Dari Bay is the result of a twisted home recording project gone horribly right. A core songwriter of Robber Robber, James is also the drummer of Unknown Mortal Orchestra and a live collaborator and session musician for Greg Freeman, Lutalo, Lily Seabird, and Michael Nau, amongst others," a statement reads.
"Originally self released in 2023, Longest Day of the Year found Dari Bay assuming new form as James combined americana twang and shoegaze into 'indie pop bliss' (Glide Magazine). Throughout Longest Day of the Year, James leans into listener expectations as often as he completely disregards them, ultimately finding a captivating equilibrium between the alien and the familiar. Hints of ‘90s alt rock achiness or twangy slowcore show up here and there, but closer listening reveals how winding and non-linear these seemingly stripped-down songs actually are."
James reflects: "I remember working on this album and thinking it was a big vibe shift from other music I had made previously, and being excited by that. After the release, we were able to do some real fun scrappy touring and met a bunch of good people in the process. It hasn’t been very long since Longest Day of the Year was released but a fair amount has changed, maybe partially thanks to the album? With the reissue, it’s a cool opportunity to extend the party a bit. Across the album, there’s a theme of staying at a party too long so it’s kinda perfect.”
"The reissue includes the previously unreleased single, 'Interstate,' out today," the statement adds. "Recorded before the sessions for Longest Day of the Year, the track displays the transition from Dari Bay’s earlier, noisier material into the more fine-tuned songcraft found on the album."
James explains: "’Interstate’ is sort of a prototype for Longest Day of the Year, I think it was one of my first attempts at writing pop-leaning music that felt somewhat successful. And lyrically I suppose it fits the theme of the album. It’s a love song that’s also a car song."
Photo Credit: Connor Turque
