In an age where “going offline” has become both a luxury and a threat, LA trio Koyal transforms digital fatigue into pure disco euphoria with their latest single “hiatus.” The track arrives as a preview of their sophomore album breathe in. breathe out, out February 28, suggesting this former Atlanta basement band might be ready for bigger stages.
Over production that sparkles like a mirror ball – courtesy of guitarist Noah Weinstein and Mo Lowda & the Humble’s Jeff Lucci – vocalist Pooja Prabakaran turns the act of turning off your phone into a liberation anthem. The track’s throwback groove, punctuated by strutting saxophone lines and synth flourishes that would make CHIC proud, creates an irresistible backdrop for lyrics that celebrate choosing solitude over constant connection.
“Well my time, time is my own,” Prabakaran declares with the confidence of someone who’s finally mastered the art of saying no. It’s a sentiment that hits differently in 2025, when even vacation photos come with an expectation of instant sharing. The defiant “You’re calling me / Say you want the latest / Girl don’t you know / I’m on vacation,” feels less like an excuse and more like a manifesto for the digitally overwhelmed.
The accompanying one-shot video, filmed in LA’s Elysian Park with DIY animations from Prabakaran herself, perfectly captures this spirit of carefree disconnection. There’s something particularly fitting about the video’s single-take approach – no cuts, no edits, just pure, uninterrupted flow, much like the mental state the song celebrates.
Following their 2024 singles “intoxicated,” “gasoline,” and “lotus lake,” “hiatus” cements Koyal’s position in the growing wave of indie artists proving disco never really died – it just needed a modern message. The trio has managed to craft something remarkable here: a dance track about the joy of missing out. Their evolution from Atlanta basement jams to this polished, purposeful pop suggests their upcoming album might offer more than just a temporary escape from the notification avalanche.
If this is what taking a break sounds like, we’re ready to join the dance party.
“hiatus” is available now on streaming platforms, with sophomore album ‘breathe in. breathe out‘ arriving February 28.
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