hey, ily Drop Two New Singles, “Friend Group From Hell” and “3,2,1 Starve! (Why Do I Still Look the Same?)”

Montana’s hey, ily has been blessing us all with some really great music this year. Not only did they release the fantastic Psychokinetic Love Songs this past April, but now at the tail-end of the year, they’re treating us to two new tracks – “Friend Group From Hell” and “3,2,1 Starve! (Why Do I Still Look the Same?).”

The thing about hey, ily is that you never quite know what you’re going to get with them. Emo? Ska? Chiptune? Maybe some new wave? The only thing you can predict is unpredictability. Their eclectic style is part of what makes them so damn fun to listen to and follow. With these two new songs, they dabble in everything from old-school screamo to rocksteady grooves.

“Friend Group From Hell” switches up the genre the most. We get catchy powerpop hooks, harsh vocals, and synths before eventually being treated to a steel drum-laden instrumental bridge. A chill groove like that closing out a song with lyrics like, “All your friends will gorge themselves on sex and drugs and rock n’ roll” isn’t necessarily what you’d expect, but if anyone could pull it off, it’s hey, ily.

The B-side “3, 2, 1 Starve! (Why Do I Still Look The Same?)” is the heavier of the two. The vocals are harsh and strained, reminiscent of seminal screamo act Jeromes Dream. Don’t be fooled, though – it’s not just a straightforward screamo track. Twinkly mathcore guitar and softer vocals creep in during the bridge, and there’s even a quick bout of jazz drumming.

It takes a lot of skill and confidence to blend these sounds together so deftly, and with these two new tracks, the band once again shows that they’re a group to keep an eye on. Each new release from hey, ily has been a pleasant surprise that you won’t want to miss.

Take a listen to the songs below.

Mixed by Abe Anderson (@abethedrummer1 on Twitter)
Mastered by Kris Crummett (@kcrummett on Twitter)
Cover photo by Stomach Book (@stomachbook66 on Twitter)

Caleb Haynes – Rhythm Guitar, Incoherent rambling
Trevin Baker – Lead guitar, Lead guitar, Lead guitar, Lead guitar
Skyy Haman – Keys, Backup Vox, Coffee-making
Stephen Redmond – Bass, Silly faces
Conner Haman – Drums, Dad jokes, Sweat


Hey, ily’s new singles are out today (December 16, 2022) via Lonely Ghost Records. Stream them on your preferred app. You can also follow the band on Twitter or Instagram.

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