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Review

Beauty School Dropout Bring Awareness To Mental Health And The Human Condition Through New Single “dying to be you”

Written By:
Louis Watson
Photography By:
Posted:
May 19, 2023

Reigning from Los Angeles, California, Beauty School Dropout has been making incredible waves within the alternative rock and pop-punk scene. Consisting of Cole Hutzler, (vocalist) Bardo (producer/guitarist), and Brent Burdett (bassist), BSD Started out their career on tiktok through covers and mashups of songs and found their way under the radar of pop punk royalty Mark Hoppus and Pete Wentz. However, most music listeners associate these fellas with other up and coming rock artists such as Royal and The Serpents and JXDN.

Ahead of tonight’s performance at Madison Square Garden supporting Blink-182, the rock trio have shared their explosive new single “dying to be you,” available to stream now on all DSPs worldwide via Verswire. The high-energy track, released in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month, marks the prolific band’s second release of the year following their alt-dance anthem “FREAK” (feat. jxdn). 

Though their previous track with jxdn takes a dance-pop turn, their newest track “dying to be you” takes them back to their original sound similar to their 2021 EP “BOYS DO CRY” as well as its ethos. “dying to be you” was written about the band’s struggle with mental health and the constant desire to be someone else. The battle for autonomy, whether it be an intrinsic or extrinsic battle, is a hard one nonetheless and this struggle was presented in its most pure and raw form through this track.

BSD highlights the most extreme cases of the struggle, however, brings light to the raw and authentic human experience. We get wrapped up in trying to change ourselves to please others or alleviate some dysphoria, and we often forget to take care of our physical bodies and mental health. This can be heard through lyrics such as:

“I’ve been killing myself

Dying to be you

I’ve been holding my breath

Until my face turns blue.

I got blisters on my fingers

And a callus on my heart.”

Instrumentally, there is a lot of genre-bending to be recognized. Though it is clear that this track all together is a rock song there are hints of electronic and hip-hop-esque drum tracks later on in the track, however not enough to dismiss the hard guitar riffs between each chorus. 

It is also important to highlight Colie’s vocal range in this song and how impactful it is to the emotional aspect of the track. Beginning the track in a lower pitch and slowly reaching a higher pitch as he goes into the chorus, almost as if he is trying to put up a facade of being unbothered but transitions into pleading. Once we reach the end of the chorus we get a raspy yell that feels slightly strained that really brings out the yearning that’s being conveyed.

Punkaganda Press has had eyes on this band for a few years now, and can proudly say we are impressed with how much they have grown. We can’t wait to see what incredible milestone they will hit next.

Connect With Beauty School Dropout

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Twitter

Discord

YouTube

Spotify


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Beauty School Dropout will also be hitting the road this month with Blink-182, and others this summer! 

Blink 182 Dates

May 4th - Xcel Energy Center - St. Paul, MN

May 6th - United Center - Chicago, IL

May 7th - United Center - Chicago,IL

May 9th - Little Caesars Arena - Detroit, MI

May 11th - Scotiabank Arena - Toronto, ON

May 12th - Bell Centre - Montreal, QC

May 15th - Scotiabank Arena - Toronto, ON 

May 16th - Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse - Cleveland, OH

May 17th - PPG Paints Arena - Pittsburgh, PA

May 19 - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

May 20th - UBS Arena - Belmont Park, NY

 

European Dates

May 23 - London UK - O2 Academy Islington  w. Maggie Lindemann

May 24 - Manchester UK - Gorilla w. Maggie Lindemann

May 25 - Birmingham UK - O2 Institute w. Maggie Lindemann

May 26 -  NOTTINGHAM UK - Bodega

May 30 - Paris France - Machine Du Moulin Rouge w. Maggie Lindemann

May 31 - Brussels Belgium - La Madeline w. Maggie Lindemann

June 2 - Amsterdam Netherlands - Melkweg w. Maggie Lindemann

June 4 - London UK - Hard Rock Hotel

June 5 -  GUILDFORD UK - The Boilerroom

June 6th - Southhampton UK Engine Rooms - Stand Atlantic 

June 7th - Brighton UK - Concorde 2 - Stand Atlantic

June 8th - Bristol UK - The Fleece - Stand Atlantic

June 10th - Download Festival - Donnington, UK

June 11th - Rock for People Festival - Hradec, Czech Republic

June 12 - Czech Republic - Prague - Sum 41 Support 

June 16 - Netherlands - Eindhoven - Dynamo- Stand Atlantic Support

June 17 - Scheessel Germany - Hurricane

June 18 - Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany - Southside

June 20 - Bochum Germany - Stand Atlantic Support 

June 21 - Trier Germany - Stand Atlantic Support

June 24th - Sommersad Festival (Beky Bay) - Rimini, Italy - Mod Sun Support

June 25th - Sommersad Festival (Circolo Magnolia) - Milan, Italy 

 

US Festivals

August 3rd – August 6th, 2023 – Lollapalooza Festival – Chicago, Illinois

September 21st – September 24th, 2023 – Louder Than Life Festival – Louisville, Kentucky

October 5th – October 8th, 2023 – Aftershock Festival – Sacramento, California

about the author

Louis Watson

he/him
lou@punkagandapress.com
Dallas, TX
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