KOYAL FIND JOY IN ALONE TIME WITH BUILDING, "HIATUS" OUT NOW

January 28, 2025 Taylor Ohryn

INDIE POP/ROCK TRIO KOYAL FIND JOY IN ALONE TIME

WITH BUILDING, BOUNCY TRACK & LYRIC VIDEO

"HIATUS" OUT NOW

VIBRANT, GROOVY SOPHOMORE STUDIO ALBUM

BREATHE IN. BREATHE OUT DUE OUT FEBRUARY 28

Today, LA-via-Atlanta-based pop-rock trio Koyal emphasize the importance of a solo recharge with smooth, bubbly earworm "hiatus" out now with an animated lyric video. The group's earnest, dazzling second studio album breathe in. breathe out due out February 28 and is available for pre-order now.

Kicking off 2025 with a groovy, saxophone-filled ode to spending time alone, "hiatus," with its muted piano and bass, perfectly embodies the relaxed joy of leaving a stressful place and entering a happy one. The energy builds with rhythm guitar and sax from a cozy contentment into an exuberant, cathartic, breakdown bridge, “I hate doing this, doing this! / I think I’ll take a hiatus,” letting out all steam and finishing the song with a cooled down, relaxed chorus. "Hiatus" encourages one to soak in quiet moments of reflection, away from one's phone or outside noise and pressure. A sonic deep breath, Wallace(drums) says, "I wrote 'hiatus' to celebrate the joy of being in life’s negative space — the valuable time where you’re totally alone from everyone and you can hear yourself think."

The track arrives with a playful, animated lyric video, with illustrations done by vocalist PoojaPrabakaran. The visual, shot in a single take at Los Angeles' Elysian Park, perfectly encapsulates the band's light-hearted, spirited energy. Prabakaran adds, "Animating it afterwards was a blast, I loved visualizing the words into fun doodles. My favorite lyric is definitely, 'Girl don't you know, I'm on vacation.' Easily the most fun to illustrate, too!"

The triumphant, glowing forthcoming project, breathe in. breathe out, is a meditation on allowing oneself to break free of fear, resistance, familial expectations, and other obstacles in the way of pursuing authenticity and creating art. Prabakaran is proud to present a project that is both honest and joyful. "I'm so proud of how open, raw, and vulnerable we were in writing this album. It's sure to make people both dance and introspect!"

It was recorded in Philadelphia at Dr. Dog’s rehearsal space and studio, Headroom Studios, co-produced by guitarist Weinstein and Philadelphia-based musician Jeff Lucci (Mo Lowda & the Humble), and engineered by Ian Steinberg, a childhood friend of Weinstein. The group is thrilled to share a body of work that represents who they are today as they chart all new territory, face their fears, take risks and firmly, excitedly introduce themselves.

Weinstein shares, "I’m so grateful to have co-produced this album with Jeff Lucci leading me through new waters, as 'breathe in. breathe out' is by far the biggest record I’ve worked on. It took a lot of meditation to decide the sonic direction of the album, but working with Wallace and Pooja, we channeled our shared experiences and tastes to create a signature rich indie pop sound that we are incredibly proud of." There was additional production by Atlanta producer and multi-instrumentalist Tony Doud and Desmond Myers and was mixed by Harper James and mastered by Joe LaPorta.

Koyal is made up of best friends Pooja Prabakaran (vocals), Noah Weinstein (guitar/producer) and Wallace (drums) The band formed in Atlanta in their college basement and, fueled by their tight-knit friendship, have since amassed a loyal following with their genre-defying sound, dazzling instrumentation and relatable lyricism. The group played at Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival last year, and in 2023, sold out their hometown venue and set out on an East Coast tour. Now, after a string of singles released earlier this year, the trio aims to solidify their place in the rising indie pop/rock sphere with their forthcoming second album, breathe in. breathe out, due out next month. Filled with glistening melodies, bubbling production and slick instrumentation, the LP is an earnest look at life's ups and downs and offers solace with unwavering optimism and understanding.

With a warm, building melody and tender lyrics, Koyal's latest "hiatus," out now, offers a break from the unrelenting pressures of all of life's responsibilities. With their splashy, exhilarating second album, breathe in. breathe out, due out February 28 and available for pre-order now, Koyal navigate all of life's trials and tribulations with the safety and comfort of each other. Connect with the rising trio now on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube and stay tuned for much more to come.

Watch "bummer song" (Official Video) | Listen

For more information on Koyal, please visit:

Photo credit: Jeremiah Rafferty (with drawings by Pooja Prabakaran)