California reggae-influenced band Dirty Heads have announced their highly anticipated 8th studio album Midnight Control, with cover art created by bassist David Foral, due out August 26 via Better Noise Music. The band also released the new track “Heavy Water,” featuring Grammy-nominated band Common Kings. “Heavy Water” is streaming now, along with a music video featuring live shots from the current Dirty Heads Let’s Get It Kraken Summer tour. Fans can pre-order Midnight Control HERE and you can download “Heavy Water” ft. Common Kings HERE.
“’Heavy Water’ is a song about empowerment,” lead singer Jared Watson shared. “Being in the water constantly from a young age, we know the power of the ocean – there is nothing more powerful or uncontrollable. ‘Heavy water’ is a metaphor for life because when life throws something at you that’s unforeseen and uncontrollable, you will be ready for it and not let it overtake you. YOU are the heavy water and motherf*ckers better get out of your way because you are on a mission, and nothing is stopping you. Either way, you got this.” “Heavy Water” is the 2nd release off the band’s highly anticipated new album Midnight Control, following the single “Life’s Been Good,” the band’s take on Joe Walsh’s 1978 hit. After just 4 weeks, “Life’s Been Good” is racing up the Alternative Radio charts already sitting at #25 and getting support by stations across the country, including KROQ in Los Angeles. Check out the tracklisting for Midnight Control below.
Midnight Control TRACK LISTING
1. Island Glow (3:38)
2. Heavy Water (feat. Common Kings) (3:20)
3. Life’s Been Good (3:13)
4. Make Me (3:11)
5. Midnight Control (3:32)
6. Little Things (3:08)
7. Indigo (3:21)
8. El Dorado (3:30)
9. Shade (3:40)
10. Live Your Life (3:09)
WATCH THE HEAVY WATER OFFICIAL VIDEO BELOW
“’Life’s Been Good’ is the perfect follow up to ‘Vacation,’ Watson commented. “It just felt right. If you like the vibe of ‘Vacation’ and that song impacted your life in a positive way, ‘Life Is Good’ is the continuation of that feeling. I think the story of enjoying life is really what Dirty Heads are all about.” Dirty Heads are currently out streaming some of the biggest alternative acts in the U.S., with nearly 2 BILLION total streams on-demand + programmed. Worldwide, the band has over 1.28 MILLION digital track sales and 1.5 BILLION on-demand streams since 2018. (Statistics via U.S. and Global Music Connect).
Earlier this year, the band released new remixes of their viral TikTok hit “Vacation,” with producers such as Borgeous and an acoustic version of the track after the #VacationTransition challenge went viral on TikTok, amassing over 378 MILLION streams and over 6 BILLION consumption plays across all social media platforms.
Since 2003, Dirty Heads have mixed hip-hop, reggae, and rock to create a unique sound that both fully embodies their Southern California roots and resonates with audiences around the globe. The band’s global appeal reached new heights in 2021, when their hit “Vacation” (originally released in 2017) garnered over four billion views and streams across social media via the ubiquitous #VacationTransition challenge that originated organically with users on TikTok. The song, with an increase of 850% in consumption on Spotify in the past year, took on a new life in many ways, introducing Dirty Heads to new international fans by the millions. They celebrated with a series of remixes and new renditions of the track to kick-off summer 2021, and by announcing their The Best of Dirty Heads album, arriving July 16, 2021 via Better Noise Music, which will take a retrospective look at their career thus far. Nearly twenty years ago, the group formed when punk rocker Dustin Bushnell (aka Duddy B) asked his friend, rapper Jared Watson (aka Dirty J), to collaborate on a project that would focus on positive vibes and infectious grooves. Watson added singing to his vocal skills, and with percussionist Jon Olazabal, an acoustic trio version of Dirty Heads began playing shows and building an audience.
In 2008, their acclaimed album Any Port in a Storm, with a deluxe edition following in 2010. The deluxe version featured the track “Lay Me Down” with special guest Rome Ramirez of Sublime with Rome. The song reached number one on Billboard’s Alternative Songs in May 2010, and nine weeks later it established a record as the song with the longest stint atop the chart for an independently released title. They followed up two years later with Cabin by the Sea and later recorded an acoustic version of the title track. This, in turn, led to an entire acoustic album in 2013 called Home: Phantoms of Summer. Dirty Heads’ next album, Sound of Change, would prove to be a breakthrough for the now-veteran band, debuting at number eight on the Billboard Top 200 while topping the Independent and Alternative Albums charts upon its May 2014 release.
Building on their renewed success, Dirty Heads enlisted a bevy of industry hitmakers to work on their self-titled 2016 follow-up, which — thanks to its mainstream appeal — again charted high on the Billboard Top 200. The following year saw the band drop its sixth studio album, Swim Team, featuring the singles “Vacation,” in its original form, and “Staloney.” Inspired by current events and the fan interpretations of their music in the #VacationTransition challenge, the band is hard at work on new music. Their sound has evolved and they will tease the result of their new creative energy on The Best Of compilation, including a new collaboration with Travis Barker and Aimee Interrupter of The Interrupters. They’ll also bring that energy to stage this summer on their co-headlining “Let’s Get It Kraken Tour” with SOJA.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
Tue Aug 09 – Cheyenne, WY – The Chinook @ Terry Bison Ranch
Wed Aug 10 – Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Theater
Thu Aug 11 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Pavilion
Fri Aug 12 – Chicago, IL – Radius
Sat Aug 13 – Newark, OH – EVERWILD Music Festival
Sat Sept 24 – San Diego, CA – Bay Fest
Fri Sept 30 – Ocean City, MD – Oceans Calling Festival
Sat Oct 1 – Charleston Farms, SC – License 2 Chill
Follow the band’s latest releases on Dirty Heads 101 playlist on Spotify:
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