Vinyl Floor returns with “I’m on the Upside,” and this is the kind of song that hits you right from the opening notes. Out now on Karmanian Records, it’s the third single from their upcoming album “Balancing Act,” and it’s got that vibe that makes you crank up the volume and point the car in a direction you’ve never driven before.
The Copenhagen duo recorded this at Studio Möllan in Sweden with Emil Isaksson and Daniel Pedersen handling production, then Søren Vestergaard mixed and mastered it at the Shelter. What’s interesting here is that Daniel Pedersen, the band’s drummer and co founder, steps up to lead vocals. There’s something genuine about hearing a drummer tell his own story through singing, and Daniel delivers it with real conviction. Jakob Gulbrandt Koldenborg’s bass sits right underneath everything, holding it together, while Daniel Hecht from The Breakers and Franklin Zoo adds extra guitar layers alongside Thomas Charlie Pedersen’s work.
The whole thing comes across as uptempo and guitar forward with this warm retro feel that pulls from classic pop and rock writing.
The vocal harmonies are rich and layered. They sit on top of a drum groove that actually has life without feeling frantic. It’s got that quality that only comes when a band doesn’t overthink it, when they just let it be what it naturally is.
Curiosity and Quiet Satisfaction
Lyrically, the song is about curiosity and that quiet satisfaction you get from doing things your own way. It’s about stepping back, looking at the world from a distance, and realizing you’re actually good with where you’re standing. The words are upbeat and the feeling behind them is real. This isn’t a song trying to convince you of anything. It’s just an honest look at finding your own perspective and being happy you did.
The Pedersen brothers started Vinyl Floor back in 2007 and have spent the last couple decades building something solid. Over 200 shows, tours through the UK, Germany, and Japan, six full length albums released. Their music has always drawn from British rock and pop of the 1960s and 70s, though they’ve never been shy about adding classical and contemporary elements when a song needs them. “Balancing Act” is their sixth studio album, following up on 2022’s “Funhouse Mirror.”
“I’m on the Upside” is four minutes and nine seconds of Vinyl Floor doing exactly what they do best. It feels good from start to finish and stays with you long after it ends.
You can listen here.
