Rising from sun-soaked California, The Daytime High’s music is a haze of nostalgia and modernity, as warm as it is distant. Formed only three years ago in 2022, the band is consistently releasing one sign after the other. The latest arrived on the 22nd of August this year, “Beauty in the Sky”, strengthening the band’s grasp on their musical identity and style.
A mostly Classic Rock band, the song sounds—as it aims to, perhaps—as if it has arrived to us directly from the 60s. Whether through the direct heavy influences from the Rolling Stones, most clear in David James’ guitar riffs and playful solos; the distant affinity with the Beatles and the Whos, shining through the lyrics and Micael Johansson’s vocal style; the flirting with the Psychedelic tradition through the Leslie speaker effect in the bridge, or the cover art itself, colorful and vaguely transgressive,
the song is soaked in the 60s, mish-mashing various figure-heads and movements that creates a mosaic-like song that is nostalgic, yet contemporary.
The song tells a redeemed story, where the speaker has already found a more meaningful life that contrasts with previous hardships. A story that is told beautifully and made easy to resonate with.
Distinctly, the element that shines through the most is the song’s engagement with the shoegaze sub-genre in its moments of dreamy, ethereal sounds, though the release mainly follows the Classic Rock sound. An element that one wishes the band leaned into more, especially with the potential Californian music already has for such a style But as it stands, the song is easily fun, enjoyable, and a pleasure for Classic Rock fans everywhere.
