Waverly Drive Shares Fuzzy New Single 'crashed out', Announces new EP

Chicago and LA-based solo project Waverly Drive returns with ‘crashed out’, a psychedelic-rock-pop single that pairs scrappy indie-rock energy with expansive electronic textures, offering the first taste of a new minimalist lo-fi EP, sunday afternoon, due November 20th.

The solo project of Phil Galloni, Waverly Drive occupies the space between hazy psychedelia, infectious guitar-driven hooks and widescreen electronic production. On ‘crashed out’, the boxy, lo-fi grit of The Strokes meets the sprawling synth textures of Francis and the Lights and M83, creating a sound that feels both immediate and atmospheric. Out October 16th, the single offers a glimpse into a more intimate creative chapter for the artist.

Produced by Galloni himself, whose previous work includes Magic Wands and Family Company, the track was mixed by Davide Cinci (Djo, Nessa Barrett, Lianne La Havas) and mastered by Daniel Eaton (Harmless, Valley Queen). The result balances the rough-edged appeal of indie rock with a layered, synth-driven soundscape, allowing melodic immediacy and hazy experimentation to coexist.

‘crashed out’ is taken from sunday afternoon, Waverly Drive’s fourth EP, which finds Galloni stepping away from the expansive studio approach that shaped his previous releases. Created alone at home during periods of downtime, the forthcoming record explores the space between longing and bliss through lo-fi electronic drums, sparse synth arrangements and vocals softened beneath layers of effects. Rather than placing the emphasis solely on lyrics, the production itself becomes a vehicle for emotion, with each element dissolving into the wider atmosphere.

Reflecting on the creative process behind the release, Galloni explains: “This EP was written during some downtime with a very minimal setup at home that made me lean into simplicity, emotion, and vibe. The process is in direct contrast to how I’ve recorded my EPs and LPs in the past, and many of the parts were kept on first or second takes to capture the feeling of the track and prevent overanalysis paralysis.”

That instinct towards simplicity marks a clear departure from Waverly Drive’s 2025 debut LP, Decadence. A widescreen, dystopian concept album, the record embraced a polished, ambitious studio sound, bringing together musicians whose credits include The Weeknd, Macy Gray and Magic Wands, with mastering by Steve Hall, known for his work with Tom Petty, The Flaming Lips and Madonna. In contrast, sunday afternoon finds Galloni embracing restraint, allowing imperfections and atmosphere to shape the finished material.

The shift reflects an artist exploring different ways to translate feeling into sound, moving from the scale of a meticulously constructed studio record to the intimacy of a home-recorded release. While ‘crashed out’ retains the psychedelic-rock-pop sensibilities that underpin Waverly Drive’s work, its looser textures and understated approach point towards a more personal body of material.

‘crashed out’ is out now, with the new EP sunday afternoon arriving November 20th.