Portland’s sonic architects KALLAI are reinventing shoegaze for the modern vortex. Their new single, “Falling”, the second glimpse into their upcoming LP We Are Forever (streaming September 5th), ditches the genre’s traditional wall-of-noise assault for something far more devastatingly intimate: a reverb-soaked cascade that nails that terrifying, beautiful moment when you realise you’re completely gone for someone.
“Falling” hits you right where it counts. It’s this swirling, kaleidoscopic rush of alt-indie dream pop that pulls you up, drops you down, and swallows you whole. The band says it digs into “the crux of the moment… a state of complete freefall where you would forsake everything.” And they’re not kidding. This isn’t something you throw on in the background – it’s an all-consuming, rose-coloured emotional release that this four-piece has built from the ground up.
The magic lies in KALLAI’s knowing how to blend textures and voices like nobody’s business. Rather than drowning the vocals in effects, Cate Hukle and David Gross use their voices like actual instruments. They’re weaving these gorgeous three-part harmonies that’ll remind you of Low or Slowdive at their best. These harmonies do all the heavy lifting – they’re packed with longing, sweet confessions, and that real, obsessive passion we’ve all felt. Hukle (who’s also handling guitars and synths) and Gross (on guitars) build this foundation that somehow feels both floating and totally solid.
Behind all that gorgeous vocal work, the band’s pushing shoegaze into new territory while keeping what makes it tick. Daniel Henderson‘s drums lay down this killer pulse – sometimes you barely notice it, but it’s always there, driving the song’s emotional ups and downs. Brian Wilcher‘s bass holds everything together like glue, making sure all those swirling sounds don’t just float away into nothing. Those promised strings and pianos drift through like ghosts, adding this beautiful sadness to everything. And here’s where it gets interesting – they throw in these angular post-punk guitar stabs that bite through the dreaminess. No pure dream-pop floating here, folks.
KALLAI declared, “It isn’t shoegaze as you know it; it’s shoegaze as 2025 needs it.” With this track, they’ve made that statement undeniable. It’s a breathtaking, immersive plunge into love’s terrifying wonder, marking them as essential innovators. Let “Falling” pull you under on all major platforms September 5th. Prepare for the freefall.