Los Angeles indie rock favourites Dear Boy have returned with a blistering new single ‘After All’ — a collaboration with Alithea Tuttle of fellow LA alternative act Rocket, released ahead of the upcoming sophomore album Celebrator due October 17th via Last Gang Records.
Produced by Aron Kobayashi Ritch (Momma, Been Stellar, Snail Mail), ‘After All’ grows from its swirling vocal harmonies to its louder-than-life guitars. Emotionally charged lyricism and big, melodic arrangements, the band capture anthemic songwriting with a freshly found biting edge. Drawing from the spirit of ’90s Britpop and fuzzed-out Alternative while pushing into fresh territory, the song feels both nostalgic and forward-looking. For frontman Ben Grey, the track fills a conspicuous gap in their discography.
“It is crazy to have been a band for this long without contributing a primal-teenage-bedroom-rock riff,” Grey laughs. “Happy to finally right a wrong.”
The chemistry between Grey and Tuttle’s vocals elevates the song into dream-soaked territory. The connection is rooted in a friendship that predates the collaboration.
“We first played with Rocket on New Year’s Eve a few years ago and became fast friends,” Grey recalls. “We’re both from the Valley, went to the same pre-school — a tale as old as time. But truly, they’re an important band, and I think Alithea has one of the defining rock voices of this generation. We feel so honored she sang on ‘After All.’ It’s the Catherine Wheel/Throwing Muses moment we’ve always dreamed of.”
Lyrically, ‘After All’ swings between contemplative intimacy and untamed catharsis, its bittersweet core punctuated by Grey’s sharp turns of phrase: “I feel everything / It’s better than nothing / I want coffee rings / On my future coffin.” A shoegaze-kissed texture runs through the stadium-sized chorus, delivering a perfect slice of alt melancholia for fans of both Britpop revivalists and classic indie staples.
The single reflects Dear Boy’s renewed approach for Celebrator: organic production, live takes, and creative spontaneity. Written over twelve writing sessions and recorded live in less than two weeks, the album promises to be melodic, moving, and unpredictable.
“We made this album to remember why we do this in the first place,” says the band. “Because we love it. We adore each other. Joy. Connection. Heartbreak. Celebration. We’re not interested in anything other than that.”
Formed in London by Grey and drummer Keith Cooper before returning to Los Angeles and recruiting guitarist Austin Hayman and bassist/vocalist Lucy Lawrence, Dear Boy has steadily carved out a reputation for crafting songs that feel both thoughtfully informed and refreshingly original. Their influences range from Pulp and Oasis to Slowdive, Pixies, and R.E.M., and their growing catalog reflects that balance of UK alt romanticism and American indie grit.
‘After All’ feels like a definitive statement from a band poised for a breakthrough — a confident, crossover-ready single that stands comfortably alongside today’s alt rock heavyweights while honoring the lineage that shaped them.
Listen below and say tuned for the upcoming album.
