Surf Curse is an American indie rock band formed in Reno, Nevada in 2013. The band is composed of Alex Jacobson and Jacob Rubeck. They have released a number of singles throughout their career. One of their most popular singles is "Freaks." Released in 2015, the song features Surf Curse's signature lo-fi sound and catchy guitar riffs. The lyrics explore the themes of feeling like an outsider and not fitting in with societal norms.
The lyrics explore the themes of feeling like an outsider and not fitting in with societal norms. "Freaks" has received critical acclaim for its infectious energy and relatable lyrics. Another notable single by Surf Curse is "Disco.
These indie-rock lifers went from obscurity to scandal to a major-label deal in 10 months
Nick Rattigan and Jacob Rubeck knew something weird was afoot with their band Surf Curse when they saw a TikTok video about “Scooby-Doo’s” alleged polyamory subtext, soundtracked by their 2013 single “Freaks.”
“We have a group chat with our manager, and she kept saying, ‘Oh my God, ‘Freaks’ is getting all these plays.’ But to be honest, we were kind of numb to it,” drummer and singer Rattigan said.
Before this spring, the L.A. duo had zero reason to think that their old garage-punk song, off their independent album “Buds,” was going to be the breakout online rock hit of summer 2021.
Advertisement“But then we started seeing all the TikTok videos that kids were making with it that were so insane and absurd,” Rattigan continued. “It was all very strange, but I guess this is why the song has 150 million streams on Spotify right now.”
“Freaks” doesn’t scream “pop hit.” It’s sparsely produced and red-lined with distortion. The lyrics lean morbid: “My head is filled with parasites / Black holes cover up my eyes.” But there is something cathartic and relatable in its main chant — “I am just a freak” — that aligns with perennial teen angst and the formatting of TikTok memes. Unrequited crushes, fashion missteps: “Freaks” can soundtrack whatever you’re cringing about.
The reams of “Freaks” videos on the service — at least 400,000 and counting — earned the L.A. duo hundreds of millions of streams across platforms, a major-label deal with Atlantic Records and an unexpected post-pandemic life after a decade in the DIY trenches.
“We wrote that song when we were 18, so the lyrics and everything were very youthful, and I guess that’s why teens still relate to it,” guitarist Rubeck said (the bandmates are now in their late 20s). “We’ll see some Adonis-looking guy on TikTok being like, ‘These lyrics blow my mind.’ I guess people can relate to it today.”
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If you were knocking around the downtown L.A. all-ages club the Smell in the 2010s, you probably heard “Freaks,” or a whole bunch of songs more or less in line with it. Surf Curse, which formed in Reno before moving to L.A., was part of a boomlet of bands born in the wake of Best Coast and Wavves that played catchy, melancholy punk songs about feeling lost and lonely in the SoCal sun.
AdvertisementSurf Curse (and Rattigan’s other project, the Secretly Canadian-signed Current Joys) had a solid if still-underground career, releasing three albums, including 2019’s “Heaven Surrounds You.”
Why did the near decade-old “Freaks” take off now? Who knows. The band certainly doesn’t.
“We had to grind our teeth struggling this long, hoping that if we just kept working, there was some cosmic energy that rewards you when you’re not looking,” Rattigan said. “Obviously, we didn’t expect it to be a global phenomenon on an app 10 years later, but that’s just how things are discovered now.”
Adam Schulz, the band’s A&R rep at Atlantic, knows TikTok fame is the currency for pop breakouts today. Like The Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather” (another 2013 rock song given a second wind on TikTok recently), “Freaks” is both a nostalgic artifact from a more carefree time and a fresh sound in streaming’s perpetual present tense.
“When I heard ‘Freaks’ for the first time, the thing that stood out to me was how exhilarating the song is,” said Schulz. “That energy is consistent across the band’s catalog, and once you watch videos of the band performing live, you realize it translates even better in real life.”
Of course, no one has been able to see Surf Curse live while the pandemic shut down venues (and fans might have to wait a little longer — a fully vaccinated Rattigan says he’s currently at home recovering from COVID-19). Atlantic rereleased the single in May and is promoting it to rock radio (it hit No. 17 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative songs) but also to Spotify’s key Pop Rising playlist. The song has since broken into Spotify’s Top 50.
“The biggest challenge is building a story outside of TikTok,” Schulz said. “A lot of records that work on TikTok never escape the platform. Fortunately, ‘Freaks’ was a sticky record in the L.A. indie rock scene and the band had a dedicated following long before the TikTok moment, so we had a foundation to work from.”
The left-field success of “Freaks” is a happy surprise for the band, but it also comes at a complicated moment for them.
In August 2020, local indie label Burger Records dissolved amid multiple sexual assault and misconduct charges against acts in the SoCal punk scene. As many young fans came forward with allegations against bands in that scene, an anonymous social media account posted sexual misconduct claims against both members of Surf Curse. Their label Danger Collective announced that it would not continue working with the band. (Surf Curse played Burger’s Beach Goth festival in 2016 but were not signed to the label. Representatives for Danger Collective did not return requests for comment.)
“An Instagram account that has since been deleted, post[ed] an anonymous message accusing me of a heinous crime against another human being,” Rubeck wrote on social media in August 2020. “There hasn’t been a moment in my life that even comes close to what was described in that post…The person who made the claim, whose identity I don’t know and whose privacy I want to respect, voluntarily retracted their statement against me and cleared my name…I want to make it clear we never made any threats to the page, legal or otherwise.”
(That accuser, in a now-deleted Instagram post on the account Creeps in the Scene, said that they were mistaken about who attacked them: “It was not Jacob who was assaulting me. I don’t want to ‘cancel’ someone who doesn’t deserve it. In light of this new information, I would like to retract my statement.”)
At the same time, Rattigan also denied two since-deleted anonymous accusations of him harassing fans at shows. “The conversation around harassment is vital to this community and it devastates me to be put in this position,” Rattigan wrote at the time. “These allegations are simply untrue.”
“There was a lot we learned, and it was a very difficult time,” Rattigan said of the accusations. “We came out of it.” Asked to elaborate on what they learned from the experience, he said, “We feel pretty good about everything now, and that’s really all there is to say.”
Surf Curse is writing new music for a future Atlantic release and plans to tour in 2022. Even if they don’t quite understand TikTok, or use it much themselves, Rattigan and Rubeck are hopeful about whatever it means for the band’s future.
“We’re grateful but vigilant,” Rattigan said. “It’s challenging as artists because you’re constantly trying to move on to new things. But people don’t like the time they’re living in, and diving into the past is something they do when they feel that way.”
“Freaks” doesn’t scream “pop hit.” It’s sparsely produced and red-lined with distortion. The lyrics lean morbid: “My head is filled with parasites / Black holes cover up my eyes.” But there is something cathartic and relatable in its main chant — “I am just a freak” — that aligns with perennial teen angst and the formatting of TikTok memes. Unrequited crushes, fashion missteps: “Freaks” can soundtrack whatever you’re cringing about.
" Released in 2017, the song features a more polished sound compared to their previous releases. The track channels a nostalgic 80s vibe with its catchy synth melody and dreamy vocals. "Disco" showcases Surf Curse's ability to effortlessly blend different musical influences and create a unique sound. In 2020, Surf Curse released the single "Bummer Friends." This track showcases the band's growth and maturity in both their sound and lyrics. The song touches upon themes of unfulfilled expectations, lost friendships, and the turmoil of young adulthood. "Bummer Friends" retains Surf Curse's signature guitar-driven sound while incorporating introspective and emotional lyricism. Overall, Surf Curse's singles showcase their ability to create catchy and emotionally-driven indie rock music. Their unique sound, combined with relatable lyrics, has garnered them a dedicated fanbase and critical acclaim. As they continue to release new music, Surf Curse remains an exciting and influential presence in the indie rock scene..
Reviews for "Why Surf Curse's Singles Are a Must-Have for Vinyl Collectors"
- Julia123 - 2/5 - I was really looking forward to the new Surf Curse singles, but I have to say I was disappointed. The songs lacked the energy and catchy melodies that made me fall in love with the band in the first place. They felt like B-sides or unfinished ideas rather than fully realized tracks. I hope this is just a bump in the road for Surf Curse and they can come back with stronger music in the future.
- MusicLover92 - 2/5 - I hate to say it, but the new Surf Curse singles just didn't do it for me. The production felt messy and the vocals were drowned out by the instruments. It was hard to connect with the songs or even understand the lyrics. I found myself skipping through the tracks, hoping to find something that would catch my attention, but unfortunately, it never happened. I hope Surf Curse can find their sound again and deliver the quality music they're capable of.
- RockFan99 - 2.5/5 - I've always been a fan of Surf Curse, but their new singles fell flat for me. The songs lacked the emotional depth and complexity that I loved in their previous work. They felt generic and uninspired, like they were trying to fit into a certain sound or follow trends. I miss the rawness and authenticity that made Surf Curse stand out. I hope they can rediscover their unique voice and deliver something more impactful in the future.