by Grady Olson
Photo by Jordan Cramer
In the heart of East Los Angeles, tucked away in the Balboa Recording Studio and art space, FIDLAR – Zac Carper, Max Kuehn, and Brandon Schwartzel – crafted Surviving the Dream, their first album in over five years. Recorded in 12 days, with just the help of a few buddies. That’s how Zac Carper, Max Kuehn, and Brandon Schwartzel wanted to do it. But also kind of how they had to do it, with no label, no fancy producer, a testament to FIDLAR's DIY ethos. But who gives a shit where you record, the boys are back and they’re the same as they ever were but a lot different.
Photo by Jordan Cramer
The Dream Evolves
Surviving the Dream is a phrase they coined based on Aussie band and good friends Dune Rats' motto, "Living the Dream." But for FIDLAR, the dream has shifted and evolved into a new meaning; it now teases on that darkness that is a constant underlying positivity, reflecting the realities of getting older and navigating life's ups and downs. As lead singer Zac Carper explains, "They used to be crashing on couches and people would ask how they were and they'd just say, 'living the dream.' So whenever I’d be out during covid and someone would ask me how I was doing, I’d say, 'surviving the dream.'"
Photo by Jordan Cramer
Creative Process in the Midst of Chaos
For Carper, the new album's creation was intertwined with his journey of self-discovery as it’s the first album since the frontman was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Having a somewhat better understanding of his creative process now, which comes in waves while in a manic state, "It took longer. I was scared to drop in." he admits, describing the waves of manic creativity that fuel his songwriting. "Once I do, there's no stopping that wave. It’s like meth. I’m up for three days. I’ve tried meds and they make me okay but it kind of fucks with everything else. So I’ve just got to find that right cocktail.”
Photo by Jordan Cramer
It's in the aftermath of these manic episodes that the editing and refining process takes place that shapes FIDLAR's distinctive sound. “I do drafts. I’m a big fan of drafts. It starts out with a ukulele and then there will be like 7 demos to it. So once I create, I just create and create and then crash. Then I’ll listen back, like okay; what sounds good? There's a lot of editing.”
"Once I do, there's no stopping that wave. It’s like meth. I’m up for three days."
DIY or Die
With no label backing, FIDLAR welcomed back their familiar DIY approach to recording. "No one would give us a bunch of money," Max Kuehn quips. "No one would do it for us, we’re off a label, so why not just self produce it," adds Brandon Schwartzel. This self-reliance allowed the band to maintain creative control and capture the raw energy that defines their live performances.
Photo by Jordan Cramer
The same goes for the album cover. Wanting to create that paint pen, exacto knife, ‘broke kid let’s just make something aesthetic,’ they just did what they wanted with the font and the smiley face. “We took that and manipulated it to use as a single art piece but then also throughout the lyrical videos. We scanned it and fucked it up, paint penned it, scanned it again.” Brandon
Photo by Jordan Cramer
Aging Gracefully in the Mosh Pit
While the band members may be getting older, their fan base seems to stay young, which is good for the guys "After the pandemic, we realized everyone is like 15. What the fuck happened?" Carper laughs. “We were all expecting everyone to have kids and pull their Fidlar shirt out of the garage, like an old dude with a beard and a beer. But then there was this youthful sort of energy that really pumped us up.”
Photo by Jordan Cramer
For FIDLAR, energy is the driving force behind their music. "One of the main rules is just energy, energy, energy. How do we bring the most energy to it?" Carper emphasizes. This focus on capturing the live essence of their music allowed them to record the album quickly and efficiently, prioritizing feeling and vibe over technical perfection.
This youthful energy has injected new life into the band, like a punk fine wine, they’re aging gracefully in the mosh pit, inspiring them to continue pushing boundaries and creating music that resonates with the young and restless.
Photo by Jordan Cramer
The Dream Continues
FIDLAR's longevity can be attributed to their unwavering commitment to craft and DIY spirit. As Schwartzel puts it, "Let’s get it out, go play, and then keep going. Keep playing, keep writing, and then record stuff when it comes." Surviving the Dream is a testament to this enduring passion. FIDLAR is here to stay, ready to ride the waves of music, life, or whatever else for years to come.
Photo by Jordan Cramer
Photo by Jordan Cramer
FIDLAR - 2024 NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINING TOUR DATES
September 23 - Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
September 24 - Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
September 25 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
September 27 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
September 28 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre
September 30 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Grand At The Complex
October 1 – Denver, CO @ Summit
October 2 - Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre
October 4 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
October 5 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
October 7 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
October 8 – Buffalo, NY @ Electric City
October 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
October 11 - Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
October 12 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
October 14 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
October 15 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
October 16 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
October 18 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
October 19 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
October 21 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
October 22 – Austin, TX @The Mohawk
October 25 – Tucson, AZ @ Hotel Congress Plaza
October 27 - Del Mar, CA @ The Sound At Del Mar
October 31 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether
February 17-25, 2025 - Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise
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