Bad Press continue to carve out a sound that feels adventurous without losing sight of strong songwriting on ‘Circle Round’. The Austin trio leans into shimmering synth textures and inventive sampling, giving the track a fresh sense of momentum while still grounding everything in a memorable hook. Every element feels carefully placed, creating a song that balances indie rock energy with a cinematic sense of atmosphere. It is the kind of release that rewards repeat listens as new details emerge with each spin.
What makes ‘Circle Round’ especially compelling is its willingness to blend unlikely influences into something that feels entirely its own. The soaring guitar solo evokes the dramatic sweep of a classic western soundtrack while the polished production keeps the song firmly rooted in the present. Tanner Loach delivers an expressive vocal performance that pairs naturally with the band’s expanding sonic palette, while Devlin Manning and Sebastian Erdman provide a rhythm section that keeps the song moving with confidence and purpose.
The accompanying video only adds to the experience, embracing a playful western aesthetic that contrasts with the song’s lyrical themes in a way that somehow makes perfect sense. That creative confidence has become one of Bad Press’ biggest strengths, proving they are just as interested in crafting memorable visuals as they are unforgettable songs. ‘Circle Round’ feels like another significant step forward for the band and an exciting preview of what is still to come from one of Texas’ most promising indie acts.
About Bad Press & ‘Circle Round’
Austin trio Bad Press return with a new song and video, “Circle Round,” which finds the band experimenting with synths and sampling, while delivering a video with an old time western flair.
Bad Press is Tanner Loach (vocals), Devlin Manning (bass), and Sebastian Erdman (drums), who formed in Dallas, TX in 2020.
“Circle Round” was born before the video concept ever existed. “This song came about from Sebastian and Tanner messing around with new synth pads and sampling,” Devlin explains. “It sat for a while, and then almost a year and a half later, MJ Dear, one of my best friends, invited us to his family’s ranch in Waco. That’s when everything clicked.”
Bad Press knew they wanted to use the ranch for a video but had absolutely no idea what song they should use. “We already had come up with a skit set at the ranch and all it needed was a song. We had more western sounding tracks but settled on ‘Circle Round’ as we thought the guitar solo sounded like an alt version of a spaghetti western theme song.”
The result of the video came out as a fun, cinematic video that ignores the song’s lyrical meaning. “The lyrics have nothing to do with the video, but somehow it works,” the band says. “We just want people to have as much fun watching it as we did making it.”
“Circle Round” pulls from a wide range of inspirations. “On this track in particular, we were listening to everything from The Last Shadow Puppets and Harry Styles to Ennio Morricone’s iconic score for The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” the band says.
After making their debut at the Sublime Festival in Fort Worth this past May, Bad Press are gearing up for a summer slate of shows.
More live dates are on the way and Bad Press have a packed release schedule. “We have a slew of new singles in the chamber that we’ll be releasing shortly.”
“Circle Round” marks the fourth song from Bad Press and third in a row that was recorded with producer Chuck Alkazian (Pop Evil, Soundgarden, Asking Alexandria) at Pearl Sound Studios in Detroit.
SOURCE: Official Bio
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