New York City indie rock band The Upsides shares wistful, nostalgic offering “New Jersey in the 90s,” giving us a peek of their upcoming second album, In The Maze. Unfurling reflections on the loss of innocence and childhood, the synth-tinged production is a deeply personal yet expansive exploration hinged on emotive storytelling.

Lyrically, the track journeys through brothers Matt and Dan Fullam‘s New Jersey upbringing and memories of a family next door who lost their father on 9/11. Introspecting on the impact that the family, their experiences and absence once they moved away, the poignant number expands past the band’s signature jangly garage-rock sensibilities into a bolder soundscape framed by a sense of collaboration and experimentation.

Offering a reflective pause that mirrors the emotional themes of the album, which spans coming to terms with the past and reaching pivotal moments in life, the track encapsulates the quiet end to the innocence of childhood.

Speaking of the new single, Fullam explains, “It’s less a story about that event and that particular day, and more about how difficult it is to make sense of certain things in your past while acknowledging how profound of an impact they had on you.”

Having written much of the album during a ten-day songwriting retreat in Parksville, New York, The Upsides – consisting of  Matt, Dan alongside Hart Mechlin, Pat Freeman and Matt DaSilva –  continue to chase heartfelt storytelling and experimental sonics with their ever-evolving craft.

Connect with The Upsides : Instagram