Feature: flipturn's 'Burnout Days' Transforms into Sweaty, Soul-Stirring Fever Dreams in Their Second Album - Atwood Magazine

      Indie rock band flipturn guides us through their poignant sophomore album ‘Burnout Days’ track by track. This emotionally resonant and deeply personal record emerges from a place of fatigue, introspection, and determination to persevere. The Floridian five-piece navigates through euphoric highs, escapist anthems, and instances of stark honesty and vulnerability, unveiling the narratives, challenges, and connections that make this their most impactful work to date.

      Stream: “Rodeo Clown” – flipturn

      We are passionate about our craft. These songs illustrate the repercussions of that passion.

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      Burnout doesn’t always manifest as a breakdown.

      Sometimes, it appears as relentless pursuit – striving for the next performance, the next composition, the next thrill, or the next iteration of yourself until you no longer recognize your reflection. This notion pulses throughout flipturn’s ‘Burnout Days,’ an album that embodies the conflict between fatigue and joy, recklessness and determination. The band’s sophomore effort showcases them at their most vulnerable and electrifying—an indie rock fever dream infused with grit and brilliance, crafted in the demanding environment of life on tour, and illuminated by intention, intimacy, and hard work.

      Released on January 24th through Dualtone Music Group, ‘Burnout Days’ serves as the anticipated successor to flipturn’s 2022 debut, ‘Shadowglow,’ and marks a significant evolution in both ambition and spirit. Described by Atwood Magazine as a “soundtrack to our coming-of-age reckonings,” ‘Shadowglow’ introduced flipturn—comprising Dillon Basse (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Tristan Duncan (lead guitar), Madeline Jarman (bass), Mitch Fountain (synth), and Devon VonBalson (drums)—to the public with a vivid emotional exploration, featuring songs filled with cinematic vigor and youthful dynamism, self-doubt, stark reality, tentative confidence, boundless optimism, and sincere hope. For flipturn, who formed in 2015 and had steadily gained traction for seven years, their debut album both confirmed their achievements and bridged their past, present, and future—representing “that moment between youthful longing and the sobering realities of adulthood,” in Duncan’s words. ‘Shadowglow’s hit single “Sad Disco” continues to resonate on rock radio, along with other notable tracks like “Space Cowboy,” “Playground,” and “Whales.”

      While their debut captured the exhilaration of their ascent—the thrill of achievement and the chase—this new album delves into the aftermath.

      It's a deeply introspective work, created in the silence following the frenzy as the band navigated success and exhaustion while pondering how to progress. Composed during a retreat in the North Carolina mountains and recorded near the Texas desert, ‘Burnout Days’ not only continues where ‘Shadowglow’ concluded but also broadens that world, with flipturn exploring deeper, darker, and bolder themes than ever before.

      This tension became the backbone of ‘Burnout Days,’ both thematically and emotionally. “After releasing ‘Shadowglow’ and heavily touring it over the past couple of years, we all began to better grasp the life we were living—and consequently what burnout truly means,” Tristan Duncan shares with Atwood Magazine. “This album reflects that feeling and the ongoing life surrounding it.”

      By the time ‘Shadowglow’ debuted in 2022, flipturn had become seasoned road warriors in their mid-20s, showcasing their vibrant performances at marquee festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Governor’s Ball, as well as touring alongside acts like Two Door Cinema Club, Mt. Joy, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise. The album's success opened doors to iconic venues like Brooklyn Steel, the 9:30 Club, and Red Rocks, allowing their fanbase to grow significantly. However, this surge in momentum came at a cost.

      “We worked tirelessly on ‘Shadowglow,’ and the pace was relentless,” recalls frontman Dillon Basse. “The album’s success enabled us to perform for a broader audience, but we weren't considering the mental toll that comes from being away so often.”

      The experiences of presence and absence, missing key moments with loved ones, and exhausting themselves both on the road and at home inspired a collection of songs that delve into not just the human experience but also the importance of the relationships we often take for granted. As Basse noted, the themes explored in their songs are universal. “Everyone can relate to this feeling; it’s not exclusive to musicians,” he explains. “Burnout can occur whenever you’re so invested in something that you give it your all. When you push yourself too hard, this record is about accepting that and discovering ways to cope with it. We love what we do. These songs narrate the aftermath."

      These narratives materialize in songs that flipturn crafted with immense care. “Our goal was to develop