Photo by Nat Campbell

Artist: Dari Bay, the songwriting moniker of Zack James

Location: Burlington, VT

Buzz: One of the things that stands out most when listening to Two Wheels Move The Soul — this year’s standout debut album from Burlington indie rockers’ Robber Robber — is how some of these guitars sound like they’re absolutely hovering in space and changing the shape of gravity as they peel through the air. There’s a not-so-secret reason behind that strange electric energy, with it being in band member and lead guitarist Zack James.

What’s finally out in the open is how his solo project, Dari Bay, delivers even more of these unreal aerodynamic moves packaged up with some of the year’s most sweetly succinct, scuzzy pop-rock. There’s no limitations set for any of it within his perspective either on his sophomore breakthrough, Surprise Wish.

In contrast from the project’s 2023 debut, Longest Day of The Year, you get the sense that James knows himself as a person and an artist a little better this time around, even if many of the songs faceplant straight into pragmatic inquiry. He’s going at it with himself, the brain rot of society, randomized chaos, and whoever else is within earshot in the room right up against more hopeful matters of the heart. It’s that last part that make all that shit more bearable and informs Dari Bay’s stream-of-conscious commitment to riff and pen here.

The takeaway? James is learning at the wise ol’ age of his 20s that there’s are no rules and you’ve got to just forget whatever you thought you knew, because life’s got some curve balls coming your way. As does he.

On opener “Finder”, he retraces memory patterns with bold outlines with gentle, blown out bedroom-pop sentimentality, while “Video” and “Chevy” in their own way contend with isolating factors — be it by our screen or our own designs — with distorted lenses, respectively scratched and bleary. His way of working out the thoughts come through varying currents derived from indie rock, grunge, and dream-pop, making for a trip through James’ headspace where for every listless spell (“On Your Side”,) there’s always a pay off with a points of realization right around the corner (“Bet On The Feeling”.)

“I’ve really gotta remind myself that / Sometimes we feel so small, but it’s alright,” the lightning bulb pops on the penultimate track “We’re Gonna Be Okay”. It’s a big world out there, but for Dari Bay, that’s just your sign to keep moving through it in whichever direction you’d like.

Sound: An existential head trip fueled by plenty of amperage.

Recommended: “Chevy”, “We’re Gonna Be Okay”, and “Bet On The Feeling” from his newly-released debut album, Surprise Wish

Dari Bay’s Surprise Wish is available now on Double Double Whammy.