In a world begging for a full-throttle grunge revival, DIIV’s evolution and dedication to their craft position them to make significant waves for the future of shoegaze and beyond. If you’re a fan of indie-rock and haven’t yet dived into the mesmerising sounds of DIIV, now is the time to board the train. With their newest single ‘Brown Paper Bag‘ featuring a cameo by the iconic Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, the announcement of their upcoming album ‘Frog in Boiling Water’, and an eagerly anticipated North American tour, DIIV is making waves in their fantastical return.
DIIV, formerly known as (and pronounced as) Dive, originated in Brooklyn, New York City and is composed of Zachary Cole Smith, Andrew Bailey, Colin Caulfield, and Ben Newman. Their fourth album, titled ‘Frog in Boiling Water’ is now scheduled for release on May 24, 2024, via Fantasy Records marking their first new album in five years.
Adding to the anticipation, the band have just released an SNL-style parody performance video for their latest single titled ‘Brown Paper Bag’. Within the video, the iconic Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit introduces DIIV on an SNL-like studio stage, complete with a live studio audience. The video concludes with an eerie satirical infomercial promoting a seemingly pro-capitalism brand called Soul Net.
During the arduous four-year creation of the upcoming album ‘Frog In Boiling Water’, produced by Chris Coady, DIIV faced challenges that strained the band, delving into uncharted territory. Striving for musical innovation and embracing democracy within the group, the journey tested relationships, entangling family, friendship, and finances in a web of complexity. This album will serve as a testament to endurance through tumultuous times, capturing the reflective and immersive essence of their collective journey.
There is already so much to say about this album, and it hasn’t even been released yet. The journey of creating ‘Frog in Boiling Water’ clearly wasn’t easy, with each member dedicating themselves to improvement. From a ten-day retreat in the Mojave desert to drummer Ben practising at 7am and frontman Zachary Cole Smith navigating lyrical challenges with a newborn at home, the creation of the album reflects a profound commitment to artistic growth.
It’s important to note that DIIV has been previously hindered by negative headlines and overshadowed by personal issues, yet still evolved into a cohesive and intelligent rock quartet. Frontman Zachary co-founded United Musicians and Allied Workers, advocating for a power shift in the entertainment industry. These principles, emphasising no hierarchy, equal participation, and a collaborative approach, have now become central to DIIV’s ethos, transforming them into a democratic unit more than ever before.
About the title and theme of the album, the band says, “If you drop a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will of course frantically try to clamber out. But if you place it gently in a pot of tepid water and turn the heat on low, the frog will sink into a tranquil stupor, exactly like one of us in a hot bath, and before long, with a smile on its face, it will unresistingly allow itself to be boiled to death.”
“We understand the metaphor to be one about a slow, sick, and overwhelmingly banal collapse of society under end-stage capitalism, the brutal realities we’ve maybe come to accept as normal. That’s the boiling water and we are the frogs. The album is more or less a collection of snapshots from various angles of our modern condition which we think highlights what this collapse looks like and, more particularly, what it feels like.”
It’s safe to say that the anticipation for this album will linger in our minds until its release in May, promising depth and possibly some of DIIV’s best work. I am waiting at the edge of my seat, hoping it will stir the waters just in time for the genuinely predicted grunge revival, might I add. It’s poised to be a significant release, and I cannot wait to delve straight into it.
DIIV’s journey, both personal and musical, has led them to create something truly unique. The band’s resilience and commitment to change within the industry are reflected in their art. As DIIV embarks on their European and North American tours, their fans eagerly anticipate the opportunity to witness the evolution of a band that has weathered challenges and emerged stronger, ready to make a lasting impact.
Mar 5, 2024: Tivolivredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands (Disorientations)
Mar 6, 2024: AB Club, Brussels, Belgium (Disorientations)
Mar 7, 2024: Mojo Club, Hamburg, Germany (Noa Lee)
Mar 8, 2024: Huxley’s Neue Welt, Berlin, Germany (Noa Lee)
Mar 9, 2024: L’Usine, Geneva, Switzerland (Glaascats)
Mar 10, 2024: Le Trianon, Paris, France (Sold Out // Noa Lee)
Mar 12, 2024: O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, UK (Bdrmm)
Mar 13, 2024: New Century, Manchester, UK (Bdrmm)
Mar 14, 2024: Vicar Street, Dublin, Ireland (Efe)
Jun 6, 2024: The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA (Sasami, Glixen)
Jun 7, 2024: The Regency Ballroom, San Francisco, CA (Sasami, Glixen)
Jun 8, 2024: Goldfield – Roseville, Roseville, CA (Sasami, Glixen)
Jun 10, 2024: Neptune Theatre, Seattle, WA (Sasami, Glixen)
Jun 12, 2024: Revolution Hall, Portland, OR (Sasami, Glixen)
Jun 13, 2024: Treefort Music Hall, Boise, ID (Sasami, Glixen)
Jun 14, 2024: Metro Music Hall, Salt Lake City, UT (Sasami, Glixen)
Jun 16, 2024: Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO (Sasami, Glixen)
Jun 18, 2024: Granada Theater, Dallas, TX (Untitled (Halo))
Jun 19, 2024: White Oak Music Hall, Houston, TX (They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Untitled (Halo))
Jun 20, 2024: The Aztec Theatre, San Antonio, TX (They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Untitled (Halo))
Jun 21, 2024: Emo’s Austin, Austin, TX (They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Untitled (Halo))
Jun 23, 2024: The Lowbrow Palace, El Paso, TX (They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Untitled (Halo))
Jun 24, 2024: Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM (They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Untitled (Halo))
Jun 25, 2024: The Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ (They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Untitled (Halo))
Jun 27, 2024: The Observatory North Park, San Diego, CA (They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Untitled (Halo))
Jun 29, 2024: The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA (Lightning Bolt, Untitled (Halo))
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