Lips Speak Louder, courtesy.

Nashville alt-rock band Lips Speak Louder are releasing their debut album next spring, but today you can get a taste with the debut of their second-ever single, “Crush.”

The band, made up of guitarist Rachel Brandsness and drummer Angela Lese (and split vocal duties), are currently on tour as backing band for Austin rocker Emily Wolfe. Wolfe, who produced “Crush” along with the rest of their upcoming singles and album, was so impressed by Lese and Brandsness that she brought them on the road.

“‘Crush’ is about the rush you get and the cascade of emotions that comes with realizing you’ve found someone truly special, and how one unexpected encounter can turn into your whole world,” Brandsness told RIFF by email. “But it’s also about the realization that all the seemingly inconsequential decisions you’ve made over the years have led you to this one person, and if you had it all to do over again you wouldn’t change a thing if it meant you could find them and be with them.”

While the band’s debut single, “Hype,” was heavily inspired by ’90s grunge, “Crush” leans more into some of Lips Speak Louder’s other influences, giving us a taste of the breadth of what’s to come.

“Our sound is influenced in part by the indie rock and indie dance scenes of the early 2000s, and I think ‘Crush’ definitely falls into that category because it’s got this feel-good, upbeat vibe throughout that is so similar to those feelings that come over you when you’re first falling for someone,” Lese said. “We’ve all been there at least once, so it’s a song that should resonate with just about everyone.”

The ’00s indie rock influence comes in strong with the soaring vocals and catchy guitar hook, a distinct difference from “Hype” but with clear threads of connection in the sound. The band’s experience as veterans of the Nashville scene and collaborators on previous projects shows; “Crush” has far more polish than you would expect from the second single from a brand new band.

“We’re both long-time fans of bands like The Killers,” Brandsness said. “So with ‘Crush,’ we tried to tap into that type of fun, driving energy to tell a story that is personal to us, but relatable to so many.”

Follow publisher Daniel J. Willis at @bayareadata.press on BlueSky.