Q&A: FIDLAR on Self-Producing ‘SURVIVING THE DREAM’ and Keeping DIY Alive
AFTER YEARS OF ANTICIPATION – FIDLAR has unveiled their fourth studio album, SURVIVING THE DREAM. A 13-track project that was self-recorded, self-produced, and self-released, the album signals a return to the band's DIY roots while exploring new sonic territories. The Southern California-based surf-punk trio has crafted a record that blends twangy heartland rock with the anthemic alt-rock ballads of the 90s, a refreshing shift that shows the band embracing vulnerability like never before, yet still maintaining the biting, irreverent edge that has defined them since their inception.
After a five-year hiatus, the band has returned with an invigorated sense of purpose, delivering songs that are as wild and rebellious as they are reflective. Tracks from SURVIVING THE DREAM are soaked in the familiar themes of debauchery, angst, and a carefree defiance of societal norms, yet they are underscored by deeper introspections on identity and belonging. It’s a record that speaks to the rebellious spirit that captures both nostalgia for their early days and a clear sense of evolution.
FIDLAR – composed of vocalist-guitarist Zac Carper, drummer Max Kuehn, and bassist Brandon Schwartzel – has masterfully struck a balance between maintaining their raw, punk energy and embracing emotional storytelling.
Their time away has clearly fueled a renewed passion, and that fire translates into their live shows, which remain as feral and unrestrained as ever. SURVIVING THE DREAM is a reminder that FIDLAR's trademark reckless, fun-loving spirit endures, even as they step into uncharted musical landscapes.
Luna recently sat down with FIDLAR for an exclusive interview ahead of their highly anticipated Chicago show on Saturday, October 5. The conversation offered a deep dive into the creative process behind their latest album, SURVIVING THE DREAM, while shedding light on the band’s long-standing connection to the DIY ethos that has shaped their career.
The trio reflected on how this hands-on approach allowed them full creative freedom that reflects both their roots and their evolution as artists. And with SURVIVING THE DREAM, the band is proving that while they may be moving forward, they’re still the same DIY-driven trio that captured fans’ hearts over a decade ago.
Photography Credit: Alina Pawl-Castanon
LUNA: Thank you for sitting down and talking to Luna. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. For any readers who aren’t familiar yet, what kind of atmosphere or emotional space do you aim to create for your listeners?
FIDLAR: Energetic and loud.
LUNA: Especially in this new era of music for FIDLAR, are there particular moods or themes you find yourself gravitating towards when writing and performing? How do you channel these into your music?
FIDLAR: We play with a lot of energy, and we have a lot of fun when we play, and I think it just bounces back and forth between us and our fans.
LUNA: You just released your fourth album SURVIVING THE DREAM and a huge congratulations is in order! I love how it stays true to your vision but continues to push boundaries within your sound. What is the inspiration behind the record and what are some themes and emotions you explore?
FIDLAR: It’s in the name itself where it touches on keep going and keep pushing and doing it. That’s the through line of the record, is to just keep on and focus on moving forward.
LUNA: I would love to talk more about the creative process behind SURVIVING THE DREAM. Can you walk us through a typical writing and recording session for the album?
FIDLAR: It changes every time and there’s not really a set way. Sometimes we write a song during sound check, sometimes it's just on our laptop, or when we’re in the studio together. There’s no real rhyme. I wish there was a formula. We have to figure out the formula. It just happens naturally and flows naturally, and we listen to that and just do it.
LUNA: What is your favorite song from SURVIVING THE DREAM and why do you love it? Is there a certain lyric or message that stands out to you the most?
FIDLAR: “I DON’T WANT TO DO THIS” pretty much sums up SURVIVING THE DREAM. There's a lot of really great things about being in a band, and there's a lot of really shitty parts about being in a band, so it sometimes feels like 23 hours of the day on tour are a drag, and then you get an hour that's a mix up for the rest of it.
LUNA: SURVIVING THE DREAM is your first album in five years. What were the biggest changes you experienced as a band during that time, and how did they influence the new record?
FIDLAR: A global pandemic was a big change in the years that didn't happen. We went from touring non stop to stopping touring for four years, so just not knowing if that was going to happen again was making me feel really insane for a while, but we survived it.
LUNA: The band self-produced and self-recorded SURVIVING THE DREAM at Balboa Recording Studio. What were some unexpected lessons you learned during the self-production process, and how might those lessons shape the way you approach future projects?
FIDLAR: A very good lesson. The little things count, like door stops. Door stops that work. You need cables that work. You need headphones that work. It's just those little things that drive people crazy when the doorstop doesn't work, then you can't fucking go, so going forward, I'm just going to fucking buy new door stops in every studio.
LUNA: What were some of the most rewarding aspects of self-producing SURVIVING THE DREAM, and were there any specific moments where you felt like the DIY approach really paid off?
FIDLAR: I think just getting a mix. Just being able to do it the way we want, without someone, for better or for worse, without someone telling us what to do or what they think about it. We could just do it how the three of us wanted to do it at the rate we wanted to do it. Sometimes you work with the producer and they want to take a few days off when the rest of the band wants to keep going. It was done on our own timing and being able to not rush the process was important.
LUNA: For other musicians considering going the DIY route, what advice would you give when it comes to handling the technical side of recording and producing without outside help?
FIDLAR: If you're going to self produce it, I would budget somebody to try to get it mixed by somebody else, because that shit is hard.
LUNA: Now that SURVIVING THE DREAM is out in the world, how do you hope it resonates with fans, especially those who have been waiting for new music from FIDLAR?
FIDLAR: I hope they like it, and if they don't, then they can listen to something else. Go to hell. Fuck right off.
LUNA: Do you have any pre-show or post-show rituals or routines that you do to help ensure you play your best performance?
FIDLAR: We learned an old Australian proverb. Our old buddies, the Dune Rats, used to say this thing, where they go, ‘who's the best band in the world?’ You go, ‘we are.’ ‘Who's going to go out there and show them who the best band in the world is?’ ‘Now go out there and show them who the best band in the world is.’
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like for you that you would like to share with Luna?
FIDLAR: Touring a lot and we’re stoked to be on this tour. This is our first national headline tour in five years. It’s so exciting, but also tiring. We want to keep playing everywhere and go to Europe, UK, Thailand, Antarctica, wherever.
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