Dirty Honey Release Riff-Fueled New Song, 'California Dreamin'' and Announce Debut Album

Dirty Honey Release Riff-Fueled New Song, ‘California Dreamin” and Announce Debut Album

2021-03-05

Pictured: Los Angeles rock band Dirty Honey. The band embraces raw, edgy guitars and solos on their latest single, "California Dreamin'."

Dirty Honey – Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Daniel Prakopcyk

Dirty Honey embrace raw, edgy guitars and solos on their latest single, “California Dreamin’,” off their upcoming debut album

Los Angeles rockers Dirty Honey have announced the details of their upcoming, debut studio album. The self-titled set, which will mark the band’s follow-up to 2019 self-titled EP, will arrive on April 23.

In addition to the album news, Dirty Honey have debuted a new song, “California Dreamin’,” via Rolling Stone, as well as a music video for the track. The song features raw, edgy guitar riffs and solos with a catchy rock-pop hook. Watch the music video via YouTube below.

Regarding the track’s theme, vocalist Marc LaBelle said, “Lots of people come out to California, chasing a dream, and sometimes, people just don’t make it. California isn’t always the ‘land of milk and honey,’ dreams don’t always come true here, and that’s the perspective this song and video take. The video is a dream through California that showcases the good, the bad and the ugly.”

Dirty Honey – which features LaBelle, guitarist John Notto, bass player Justin Smolian and drummer Corey Coverstonewere planning to make the trip to Australia to record their debut full length last year, but due to the ongoing pandemic and travel restrictions, they had to keep production in Los Angeles. In turn, they worked with producer Nick DiDia, who also produced their EP, digitally. The group recorded at Hensen Studios in Los Angeles, and DiDia stayed in Australia and worked with them online.

“If we had gone when we were supposed to in March, we wouldn’t have had as many songs,” bass player Justin Smolian said. “We did a lot of rehearsing and got tighter as a band. Except for Marc’s lyrics, everything was pretty much written by the time we got into the studio, there really wasn’t a lot of, ‘Let’s try this, let’s try that.’ It was more about capturing takes.”

“Because of the pandemic, we had a lot more time to write and prepare, which was great,” drummer Corey Coverstone added. “It meant that we were able to workshop the songs a lot more, and I think it really made a difference.”

Dirty Honey, ‘California Dreamin’,’ Lyrics:

For forty days and forty nights
Her rain would fall on me
The tunnel’s end that saw no light
Nothing was left to believe

But time rolled on like a river
Rolling fast everyday
I couldn’t wait for the winter
To change my summer ways

It’s so easy
It’s so easy

I’m California dreamin’
And it’s tearing us apart
It’s paranoia season
It’s in our mind and our hearts

Ain’t no rest for the weary
Crossing the desert at night
Now that I could see clearly
I was just a slave to the grind

It’s so easy
It’s so easy

It’s so easy
Lord, It’s so easy

Now I’m California dreamin’
And it’s tearing us apart
It’s paranoia season
It’s in our mind and our hearts

It’s so easy
It’s so easy
It’s so damn easy
It’s so easy

I’m California dreamin’
And it’s tearing us apart
It’s paranoia season
It’s in our mind and our hearts

I’m California dreamin’
California dreaming
I’m California dream
It’s tearing us apart…

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.