DIIV: "Under the Sun"

DIIV‘s Zachary Cole Smith describes “Under the Sun” as “a moment of levity amongst the heaviness” of much of his upcoming double LP, Is the Is Are. Most of the record’s singles have been accompanied by statements of intent from Smith: a vivid description of substance abuse, an exploration of the “struggles along the path to clarity, sanity, and sobriety,” and at least one blatant representation of the album’s “darkness.” “I really wanted people to be able to understand the words and connect with them,” Smith has said, and his willingness to acknowledge the past while looking towards the future seems like a step in the right direction.

“Under the Sun” is perhaps Smith at his most vulnerable. In a Tumblr post explaining that it’s a love song to Sky Ferreira, Smith becomes markedly moved. (“I don’t think I would have made it out if it weren’t for love,” he writes. “Not really sure what else to say.”) The tone of the track itself is quickly euphoric, beginning with its chiming opening guitar. As each instrument joins, most notably the rather (ahem) sunny guitar that carries the song, Smith declares his constant devotion: “Yes I’ll come back to you/ No I won’t ask where you run/ Under the sun.” It’s poppy, positive, and pure, all of which add up to an exciting move from DIIV.

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