Like the continuous flow of H2O with which they share a name, local garage pop band The Water Cycle have undergone some changes. In the past two years since releasing their last EP The Water Cycle Falls in Love in February of 2018, they swapped bass players, developed their live sound, and evolved both individually and as a whole. This year, they’re back with a warmhearted, head thumper inspired by their favorite nights out in Boston. 

“Disco Night” holds onto the roots of The Water Cycle’s jittery, youthful spirit while showcasing the growth and maturity of a band that’s been honing their craft. A fresh lead single off their forthcoming Dignified and Old EP (a reference to the 1976 Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers song of the same name), containing three additional tracks yet to be released. “The existential dread of the song [“Dignified and Old”] is something I really identify with in this moment. I like the contrast between that anxiety and these four goofy love songs,” explains guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Kerwin. 

Inspired namely by recurring disco parties at Cambridge venue The Sinclair, the song is a celebration of feeling good on the dance floor. “The practice of dancing was always something that stressed me out a lot. I can remember in middle school just walking around the perimeter of the dance, trying to figure out how to blend in,” recalls Kerwin. However, upon discovering the environment at these disco parties, Kerwin became more comfortable and the dancing came naturally. Flash forward almost two years and “Disco Night” the lead single finally arrives. 

Originally planned to be released much sooner, the track underwent several delays after being recorded in January with Alex Bingham of the band Winona Forever. Due to mixing, COVID shutdowns, being separated from their drummer and Kerwin’s brother Jack Kerwin, and sensitivity around releasing during the initial Black Lives Matter protests over the summer, the track found it’s deadline being pushed further and further into the year. Now the band feels the time has not only come, but it’s been waiting. 

“Joe and I are in the same house, but Jack is not… so even though we had the recordings, [isolation] made it nearly impossible to do anything with them for a while. It took sitting down outside to say “we’re doing this. We’re releasing this. The single is called “Disco Night” and we’re doing it,” explains bassist Olivia Mastrosimone. “Where everything is kind of a bummer, “Disco Night” feels nostalgic even though it’s about things that happened only a year and a half ago.” This release marks the first with Mastrosimone appearing as bassist for The Water Cycle after replacing Rob Capodilupo last year. 

At the risk of belaboring the point: this year has been challenging. However there have been many ways that people have found positivity and growth within the difficulty. Living with Sidney Gish for the first few months of quarantine and watching how they work & their focus on making the process an enjoyable one has helped Joe try to approach their songwriting in the same way, something they admit to struggling with. Living with various musicians throughout the past few months has also allowed them to experience live music, even if it’s in a dimly lit basement for an impromptu rehearsal.

With the release of Dignified and Old looming on the horizon, the band plans to do a live stream with virtual venue Baby’s All Right TV with more information coming soon. Listen to “Disco Night” below and stay up to date with The Water Cycle on their Instagram here.