FIDLAR

Hailing from Los Angeles, FIDLAR took shape in the early 2010s by channeling skatepunk roots, thrash energy, and surf-tinged lo-fi indie sounds. The quartet climbed from the D.I.Y. scene to an unexpected Billboard Heatseekers placement with its self-titled debut LP, a release that also drew widespread critical praise. The group’s moniker stems from the skate-derived phrase “fuck it dog, life’s a risk.” Its loose party-punk style reached worldwide listeners through the 2015 album Too and the 2019 set Almost Free. On the 2023 EP That’s Life the band tightened its attack while retaining the stoner-punk feel.

Max Kuehn on drums and his brother Elvis on guitar and vocals began playing punk shows around L.A. as teenagers, shaped by local acts such as Offspring and blink-182 as well as earlier regional bands discovered through their father’s record collection—he had been the guitarist for T.S.O.L. After high school, guitarist and vocalist Zac Carper and bassist Brandon Schwartzel completed the lineup. The four musicians then formed an independent label, recorded at home, and used the internet to share videos that documented both their music and their rowdy exploits.

Mom & Pop signed the band in 2012; the resulting album FIDLAR appeared in early 2013. It entered the Billboard Heatseekers chart at number five, reached number two on the Alternative New Artist chart, and ranked as the top most-added release at CMJ. Extensive touring alongside the Pixies, the Hives, Black Lips, and Wavves followed, after which the members returned home seeking respite. Initial attempts at a follow-up yielded songs and a self-produced sound the group deemed too reminiscent of its earlier work. Carper embarked on a road trip that sparked fresh material rooted in the music of his youth; Elvis Kuehn and Schwartzel contributed additional songs. The band then traveled to Nashville to work with producer Jay Joyce.

Issued in 2015, the resulting album Too displayed a more mature perspective and stronger musical drive. It topped the Heatseekers chart and performed solidly in the U.K. and Australia. After the touring cycle for Too, FIDLAR stayed largely out of view before beginning work on its third LP with producer Ricky Reed, known for mainstream pop collaborations with Kesha and Halsey. Several advance singles surfaced in 2018, leading to the January 2019 release of Almost Free. Additional digital singles arrived in 2022—“Centipede,” “Taste the Money,” and “FSU”—and were later compiled on the vinyl EP That’s Life, which appeared in March 2023.