HOTBED has been productively quiet since the release of their debut LP, Florence, last spring. After playing a string of live shows up and down the east coast, they, just like nearly every other musician, were hit relatively hard by COVID-19. However, instead of focusing on the 2020 tour dates they’d lost, they decided to hone back in on their recorded sound and revamp a track that had been sitting on their back burner for the better part of a year. “Sweet Nothing” is the product of a newfound focus and appreciation for too much studio time. Produced by Philly via Dewey Beach engineer Ryan Rolig, “Sweet Nothing” serves as both a memento to the carefree days of tour and as a refined next step in HOTBED’s illustrious and beachy discog.

The track is reminiscent of all the surf-inspired soundscapes that are heavy on Florence, and one of the reasons why they’re a standout in Philly. Do you know of any other city band that leans this far into their coastal roots? I certainly don’t, and it’s why they’re a staple in my summer playlist. “Sweet Nothing” is the perfect amount of prolific beach rock. With purposeful, crooning vocals that cut deep and a soundscape that ebbs in and out, it’s completely evident that the band took their time to perfect this one. Soulful keys overlap drippy guitar riffs and a classically surfy melody. It’s a sound that, if you didn’t tell me who wrote it, I’d be able to tell you right away that this is a HOTBED song.

The band has also been experimenting with technique, adding in synthetic bass tones and a Tascam-recorded voicemail. The story behind that is actually telling to the entire vibe the band wanted to achieve with the song. Left after a New York City gig, the message listens like an “impression of a desperate, disgruntled rock-and-roll venue manager,” ending with “your band is banned!” from The Knitting Factory. Sorry, guys. It’s a testament to the sort of “what could possibly go wrong next?” feeling that we’re all living in, juxtaposed with our everyday normalcy. It fits in perfectly with the song, especially if they hoped that the track itself would serve as a social commentary. “I don’t want to waste time with nothing,” the lyrics ring out over and over. Even though we all feel like we’re literally wasting our days doing nothing in quarantine, there’s still clearly an overflow of creativity. Getting back to basics and honing in on what made your band’s sound its sound like HOTBED did isn’t nothing. This is simultaneously the perfect end-of-summer track and summary of the last handful of months.

You can stream “Sweet Nothing” below, or anywhere else you listen to music.

HOTBED's Latest "Sweet Nothing" Is Surf Rock Reimagined For Life Indoors

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