Thanks to last week’s solstice, we’ve officially, for-real crossed into summer by all measures, and The Calamatix are here to provide the soundtrack. The California band shared their latest single, “Love, Lies, & Alibis,” earlier this week (June 25) via Hellcat Records to round out a trifecta of 2024 singles ahead of their debut album later this year.
Tuesday’s release is the latest from the band since signing to Hellcat, the third in a string of reggae-infused tracks from the band this past year. Compared to January’s “The Book of Love” and April’s “Rootstyle,” “Love, Lies, & Alibis” feels more overtly ska-heavy: Syncopation abounds to keep things moving, while a light touch of horn gives a more direct nod to the band’s influences.
With an added punk essence, the track hits the right blend of peppy and jagged to match the tone of its lyrics. As the title suggests, this is a song about embracing all parts of life, as vocalist Raylin Joy puts it best: “The song is about the good, the bad, the ugly and sad. Working through relationships and friendships even when you’re going through it. We all just have to keep going through the love, lies, and alibis of life.”
Alongside the single, The Calamatix shared a sunny music video for “Love, Lies, & Alibis” visibly inspired by their home state of California. And this isn’t the last we’ll be hearing from the band — their self-titled debut LP drops September 20.
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