DAISY’s “HUBBA BUBBA” will have you hoping for a spring fling

"HUBBA BUBBA" comes to us following a big year for DAISY. In June, lead singer Daisy Hamel-Buffa was featured on Tyler, The Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost, providing a bridge and background vocals on the track “RISE!”. Using that momentum, the band released the six-track EP S.O.M.E., on which they took the lo-fi bedroom pop sound of their previous EPs to a new level. Featuring more complicated production techniques, as well as wildly impressive and at times emotional vocal takes by Hamel-Buffa, S.O.M.E. showed a softer side of DAISY.

Now, having developed a sound of their own - and not to mention all the hype they have built - fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of more dreamy, vulnerable tracks like those that came out in the last year. But "HUBBA BUBBA" is anything but that—it’s grimy, loud, and ruthlessly fun. Lyrically, the track explores the joys and frustrations of a romantic fling, but with the lingering awareness that the relationship is going nowhere.

“I love a good crush,” says Hamel-Buffa, explaining, “I was letting myself indulge in a new fling where I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I was down for the ride.” But there’s a hint of tragedy here too; Hamel-Buffa repeatedly sings, “behind closed doors you’re losing your cool,” only to follow it by proudly confirming, “I’ma make you lose your cool.” Ultimately, both characters know things aren’t going to last, with Hamel-Buffa hammering the last nail in the coffin by singing, “you’re not the one for me, it’s clear as L.A. skies.”

But Hamel-Buffa isn’t the only star here; the rest of the band—comprised of bassist Alex Kasvikis, keyboardist Ben Roswell Salk, and guitarist Matthew “Rat” Fidley—sounds tighter than ever, despite the track’s dirty production. Kasvikis’ opening bassline is menacing, and combined with a blaringly loud snare drum, the track intimidates. Only once Salk’s mellow synth chords arrive does the song become a bit more comforting, which nicely pairs with the contrasting lyrical moods.

Between the clean guitar tones and the fluttering synth lines, “HUBBA BUBBA” bares its influences. “We’ve been really deep in our ‘90s bag lately,” says DAISY, adding that they “feel super inspired by No Doubt, Third Eye Blind, Dre, etc… we were really indulging in ‘90s music in the van on our last tour.” While it’s still the bedroom pop from earlier in their discography, they’re drawing from a larger catalogue of influences at this point in their career.

“"HUBBA BUBBA" is an ode to the west coast and all the incredible music we grew up on,” DAISY explains, and in some way, this perfectly summarizes what Hamel-Buffa is doing on this track lyrically - to explore the path your heart tells you to, even if you’re a bit scared of the outcome. The band is learning to lean into themselves. As Hamel-Buffa explains, “this song is about feeling yourself.”