Flipturn: an underrated indie band
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Flipturn, an indie band with a catchy sound and meaningful lyrics, is one that is worth your attention
Flipturn, an indie-rock group based in Florida, has been creating and playing music since their high school days. They started officially recording their music in 2015 and have consistently produced music since then. A recent release of their single, “Rodeo Clown,” has built hype around their upcoming album, Burnout Days (2025), set to release on Jan. 24. A Spotify featured countdown to this release date has long-time fans, including myself, excited for new music.
Their most recent album was released back in 2023 and was a deluxe version of their previous album, Shadow Glow (2022). Fan favorites from this album include songs such as “Godamn” and “Playground,” overall, this album is driven by the melancholic idea of the need to balance the light and darkness in one's life.
Flipturn has played alongside many well-known artists, opening for bands such as Two Door Cinema, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Mt. Joy, and Wilderado. They have also played at countless festivals, including Bonaroo, Lollapalooza, Shaky Knees, Hangout, and Sunfest. While Flipturn has built some credibility, they are still working hard to get their name out there and break through like other popular indie bands have been able to in recent years.
Thankfully, Flipturn gained much-deserved recognition after one of their songs, “August,” from the album Cirtona (2018), started trending on TikTok. This song is based on one band member's experience in a relationship that only seemed to flourish in August and would fall apart in the other months. This reflects the sad fact that people can go from strangers to lovers and then back to complete strangers in a matter of months.
Modern relationships can be fast-paced and short-lived, which is why I think this particular song gained so much popularity. Many people can relate to the heartbreaking lyrics, including “We don’t talk about it, we don’t have the time, we thought love was something, we weren’t meant to find, but now you’re a stranger, and I’m still July, but do you remember, August honey you were mine.”
A more mainstream song also shares the same song title—Taylor Swift’s song, “August.” This led many people on social media to use the two songs heavily during the summer months and coined the terminology “Flipturn August” or “Taylor Swift August.” Long-time fans disliked Flipturn’s growing popularity on social media and have tried to gatekeep—actions not unusual to toxic members of fandom—but true fans wish to see the band flourish and grow to reach their dreams.
The band has stated in many interviews that their goal is for listeners to relate to their music. Their music and their lyrics deal with a wide variety of problems and themes, which is successfully achieved because the five band members all participate in the creation of their music—something unique compared to other artists/groups and allows for the creation of authentic, yet varied, lyrics
Flipturn’s music is very versatile and should definitely be listened to more than just during the month of August. While their new single, “Rodeo Clown,” is a great place to start if you have never listened to them before, any of their old albums make for a great listen and will prepare you for when their newest album drops this coming January.