Slow Crush

Presented by dudefest @ jubez

Following their acclaimed debut album *Aurora*, which Stereogum described as “phenomenal” and “one of the best shoegaze albums of all time,” the Belgian band—featuring singer and bassist Isa Holliday, guitarist Jelle Ronsmans, and drummer Frederik Meeuwis—has continued to evolve significantly despite their relentless touring schedule. For their latest album, Slow Crush retreated to “The Ranch” in Southampton, UK, to collaborate with producer Lewis Johns (Rolo Tomassi, Svalbard). He pushed the band beyond their usual boundaries and encouraged experimentation and spontaneity—from glitchy textures and snare hits recorded in the kitchen to the surprising use of a saxophone. This spirit of transformation runs through the entire new album. Sonically, it’s heavier and more layered, contrasting dreamy vocals with raw guitars and capturing a new emotional intensity. Isa delved deeper than ever before in her lyrics and vocals, exploring themes such as emotional exhaustion, reconciliation, and the tension between life on and off tour. Released in 2025, "Thirst" is an album about being bound yet weightless, lost yet searching, and above all, about understanding music as a space of silence, reflection, and transcendence.