Life rarely goes according to plan, and New York City indie rockers The Upsides aren't pretending otherwise. Their sophomore album, In The Maze, is out now via Dream Wolf Records, exploring uncertainty, ambition, regret, and the uncomfortable reality that nobody really knows what they're doing. And maybe that's the whole point.
Comprising brothers Matt and Dan Fullam alongside longtime friends Hart Mechlin, Pat Freeman, and Matt DaSilva, the five-piece has spent years refining their sound through friendship and experimentation. On In The Maze, they push beyond their jangly garage-rock roots into more ambitious, emotionally charged territory.
Austin Asvanonda (Sam Fender, The War on Drugs) mixed the album, and two-time Grammy Award-winning engineer Steve Fallone (Kacey Musgraves, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga) mastered it, with additional production from Nick Perri (Silvertide, Luke Spiller). String arrangements by Richard Jones and Laura Moody of Elysian Collective appear on four tracks, while B. Miles contributes guest vocals to the closing song, “Sepia.”
At its core, In The Maze is about navigating life's endless crossroads and accepting that there isn't always a right answer.
Matt Fullam describes the record as an exploration of life's unpredictability, emphasizing that fulfillment looks different for everyone. Some chase creative ambitions and adventure, while others find happiness in stability and family. Neither path is necessarily better.
That philosophy gives In The Maze its sense of urgency. Life is short, the future is uncertain, and waiting for the perfect moment might mean missing your opportunity altogether.
With their sophomore effort, The Upsides deliver a more expansive sound while reminding listeners that sometimes getting lost is simply part of finding your way.
The Upsides' In The Maze is out now via Dream Wolf Records.
Listen to In The Maze HERE.
IN THE MAZE TRACKLISTING
In The Maze
Very Bad Kids
Say Follow
Pretending It Fades
New Jersey In The 90s
Telepathic
Fast Angel
Twist Our Fate
Space Monkey
Limbo
Sepia
