Some artists chase trends, some chase awards. Surfaces? They’re chasing a feeling. The Texas duo—Colin Padalecki and Forrest Frank—have quietly released a new album every year like it’s a wellness ritual, and LP4 is no exception. “Album a year is kind of our pace,” Colin shrugs, as if this were just some casual stroll through the music industry rather than a sprint into viral fame and double-platinum success.
With Wave of You, the first single off the yet-to-be-officially-titled fourth album, the boys once again sound like they woke up in a hammock with no stress and one perfect guitar riff between them. But this isn’t some luxe studio production. “We rented a house in Malibu,” Forrest says. “Just set up some speakers on a table and worked for two weeks. It didn’t even feel like work.”
This is what they mean by “going back to the roots”—not a metaphorical cliché but a literal return to recording in the same low-key, low-pressure way they did in their college dorms. “We didn’t know we were gonna be successful,” Colin says. “We just loved making music.” The success of Sunday Best, which they remind you is now double platinum, was never the plan. “It still doesn’t make sense,” Forrest admits.
But despite the lo-fi approach, LP4 isn’t just a nostalgia trip. There’s a philosophy behind it. “We want to hit all three sides of the triangle,” Colin explains, like a chilled-out Da Vinci. “Give our fans what they expect, push the genre boundaries, and still make something that fits the brand.”
Yes, brand. These guys may float in on mellow melodies, but don’t mistake that for a lack of intentionality. Their music may sound like a beach day, but they’re thinking in tracklists, artwork, and vibes that need to make sense together. “Even if we did a metal song, it would still have to sound like Surfaces,” Forrest says. What is the Surfaces sound? Forgiveness. Redemption. Hope. “Even when the world is dark, we want to flip it sunny side up,” Colin says. “Redemption is the core.”
That doesn’t mean they’re oblivious to what’s going on outside their ocean-view studio bubble. In fact, they see their positivity as a reaction to it. “Making this during a negative time made the joy in it feel even bigger,” Forrest says.
The Surfaces Season—because they don’t call it an album cycle, of course—isn’t just music. “It’s videos, merch, live shows, the whole vibe,” Colin says. “We don’t post a ton on social media, so this is how we say: hey, we’re here, and here’s a whole world to experience.” And yes, they’re bringing it live—with a full band, bigger production, more cities, and likely more songs for Travolta to dance to.
Speaking of which—there was that one time John Travolta did a Super Bowl commercial featuring one of their songs. “It was surreal,” Forrest says, still kind of amazed. “Like, we grew up watching Grease. Then suddenly he’s dancing to our song on national TV.”
And then there was that other surreal moment: getting an email from Elton John. “Our managers were like, do you want us to send this demo around?” Colin says. “A week later, Elton emails and says he loves it. Wants to sing, write, play piano—whatever.” That song, “Learn to Fly,” became their first feature. No big deal, just your debut collab being with one of the greatest musicians in modern history.
“Watching him work was wild,” Forrest says. “He took it slow, just him and the piano. He sat there and experimented until something popped. It was beautiful to see someone like that still so curious.”
Curious is a good word for Surfaces. They’re not here to reinvent pop, but they are here to quietly bend it into something warmer, something truer. Maybe something that sounds like a deep breath. Or, as they might say, like redemption.
Watch the interview above and then check out the videos below.
