LA via Atlanta-based indie pop/rock trio Koyal emphasize the importance of a solo recharge with smooth, bubbly earworm “hiatus” out now with an animated lyric video. The group’s earnest, dazzling second studio album breathe in. breathe out is due out February 28.
Kicking off 2025 with a groovy, saxophone-filled ode to spending time alone, “hiatus,” with its muted piano and bass, perfectly embodies the relaxed joy of leaving a stressful place and entering a happy one. The energy builds with rhythm guitar and sax from a cozy contentment into an exuberant, cathartic, breakdown bridge, “I hate doing this, doing this! / I think I’ll take a hiatus,” letting out all steam and finishing the song with a cooled down, relaxed chorus.
“Hiatus” encourages one to soak in quiet moments of reflection, away from one’s phone or outside noise and pressure. A sonic deep breath, Wallace (drums) says, “I wrote ‘hiatus’ to celebrate the joy of being in life’s negative space — the valuable time where you’re totally alone from everyone and you can hear yourself think.“
The track arrives with a playful, animated lyric video, with illustrations done by vocalist Pooja Prabakaran. The visual, shot in a single take at Los Angeles’ Elysian Park, perfectly encapsulates the band’s light-hearted, spirited energy. Prabakaran adds, “Animating it afterwards was a blast, I loved visualizing the words into fun doodles. My favorite lyric is definitely, ‘Girl don’t you know, I’m on vacation.’ Easily the most fun to illustrate, too!”
LA-based, Koyal is an indie pop-rock trio from ATL on the rise, composed of lead vocalist Pooja Prabakaran, guitarist/producer Noah Weinstein, and drummer Henry Wallace. Formed in their college basement, the trio’s friendship and musical chemistry have propelled them forward, steadily building a loyal fanbase and a diverse discography ranging from soft acoustic to main stage disco-pop.
Are you vibing with Koyal’s “hiatus”?
