“Fall Behind” - The Shrubs
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
The Shrubs — Houston’s sibling duo Josh and Miguel alongside their longtime friend Sophie — have always thrived on blending personality with craft, and their new single “Fall Behind” feels like the payoff of years spent chiseling away at a song until it shines.
Dropped on September 19, 2025 via Blossom Records, the track has a unique backstory: written by Miguel back in 2019, it lingered in the band’s vaults, revisited and reworked until it finally clicked into place. The result? A polished yet raw track that manages to balance retro charm with emotional bite.
At first listen, “Fall Behind” shimmers with the bright, upbeat energy of surf rock. Woven guitar melodies spiral around each other, giving the song a lively, almost sun-drenched atmosphere. But underneath the surfy sparkle lies something darker: lyrics about heartbreak and the disorienting churn of relationships falling apart. That push-and-pull — light melodies against weightier themes — is what makes the song resonate.
The recording process is just as interesting as the song itself. The Shrubs set up shop in their own studio, Flowers on the Wall in Katy, Texas, leaning heavily into old-school recording techniques. Rather than smoothing everything out with digital polish, they bounced guitars between reel-to-reel tape and cassettes to create an intentionally unstable, retro texture. You can hear it in the slight warble of the tones, the grit beneath the shine — like a photograph that’s been sun-faded but still carries all its beauty. That choice gives “Fall Behind” a nostalgic patina, bridging the past with the present in a way that feels deliberate and heartfelt.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
What makes the single stand out most, though, is its sense of growth. The Shrubs had been known for slower, more melancholic material, but “Fall Behind” flips that approach on its head. It’s as if the band decided to kick open the door, crank the amps, and embrace something bolder, brighter, and more eclectic — without losing the introspection that defines their lyrics. It’s a reminder that artists don’t have to stay locked into one mood or style; they can stretch, evolve, and surprise.
The band isn’t lining up live shows just yet, but the buzz around this release feels like the calm before a storm. And after sitting on this song for years, the Shrubs themselves seem to savor the simple joy of letting it finally breathe. As they put it: “Since it took so long to make, it was very rewarding to finally see it out in the wild, and watch other people enjoy it.”
“Fall Behind” isn’t just another surf-tinged indie tune. It’s a snapshot of a band learning to let go of their own hesitations, take risks, and trust their instincts. It feels vintage, it feels fresh, and most of all, it feels like The Shrubs finally stepping into their own.
“Fall Behind” is available now on all major streaming platforms
