Guildford and Brighton five-piece Aqualine are back with their latest single, ‘Stupid Brain’ - a raucous, guitar-heavy track that finds the band turning self-doubt into something genuinely fun.
Blending ’90s alt-rock with post-punk and shoegaze, the track moves from jagged guitars and restless verses into a hugely memorable chorus. There’s a scrappy, live-wire quality to it, but also plenty of melody, giving Aqualine's sound a balance between chaos and control.
Lyrically, ‘Stupid Brain’ takes aim at the endless overthinking that can make even the smallest mistakes feel enormous. Rather than treating that frustration too seriously, Aqualine lean into the absurdity of arguing with yourself, making the song feel more like a cathartic release than a downbeat confession.
The band cite Pixies, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Radiohead and Fontaines D.C. among the influences behind the track, while its final, more uplifting moments offer a welcome shift from the tension that comes before.
Produced by Aqualine members Patrick Keena and Ben Skwarski, recorded by Ralph Heywood and mixed by Lee McCarthy, ‘Stupid Brain’ captures the band's raw live energy without losing its more considered side.
It arrives as Aqualine continue to build momentum following UK headline tours, European shows and festival appearances, alongside support from BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 6 Music. With another noisy, hook-filled release under their belt, the band are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Stream the new single below
