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