Portland quartet Growing Pains continue building anticipation for their forthcoming album Daniel Loves Mandy Forever with ‘Crush,’ a hazy slice of 90s-inspired shoegaze that feels as though it’s drifting somewhere between memory and dream. Inspired by David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, the single embraces surrealism without losing sight of its emotional core.

Kalia Storer’s vocal is the undeniable centrepiece, floating effortlessly above layers of fuzzy guitars with a dreamy softness that perfectly complements the band’s shoegaze leanings. Rather than erupting into towering walls of sound, Crush remains beautifully restrained, allowing its shimmering textures and hypnotic melodies to gradually draw the listener deeper into its world. It’s a subtle approach that makes the song all the more absorbing.

The accompanying video captures that same dreamlike quality with muted colours and quietly surreal imagery, wearing its Mulholland Drive influence proudly while carving out an identity of its own. Cinematic and wonderfully off-kilter, it feels like the visual equivalent of the song’s hazy atmosphere, with Storer bringing an effortlessly magnetic presence throughout. ‘Crush’ is another captivating glimpse into Growing Pains’ richly immersive sound, proving that sometimes the most powerful songs are the ones that never feel the need to shout.