Photo by Aleko Syntelis
New Jersey four-piece High. recently shared their shimmering new single, "Catcher," the second preview of their upcoming EP, Come Back Down, available on vinyl and digitally on January 24, 2025 via longtime New York indie label Kanine Records. This track dives into the waters of loss and longing with blissed-out melodic guitar tones and introspective lyricism.
“I came to the band with the structure chords and bassline of this song, I am very attached to the music personally. Then, Christian wrote lyrics over it that have massive significance to him," says Bakie. "’Catcher’ explores the depths of grief and the unwavering hope that binds us to those we’ve lost,” adds lead vocalist Christian Castan.
The official music video for “Catcher” was filmed in New Jersey by Bakie’s brother Max Bakie and edited by Shower Curtain’s Victoria Winter. It feels like an old picturesque memory, enveloping the viewer in a warm hug, eliciting nostalgia for a river you’ve never rowed down. On directing the video, Bakie says, “I felt I should make the music video because I know the source of the lyrics so closely, but they still aren't my own. I used the boat as a metaphor for staying afloat through grief, while still moving and trying to find peace. The vast lake and the change of seasons are also a part of that. I tried to show the combination of pain and peace that this song holds.”
The music video was directed by bassist Bridget Bakie and stars drummer Jack Miller.
Come Back Down was announced last month, along with their latest crushing single, “In A Hole.” The imminent sophomore EP marks the beginning of High.'s creative partnership with longstanding NYC indie label Kanine Records & a key period in the band’s development. With a greater expression of sonic range, the EP offers more noise, more hooks, more heaviness and more emotion. The sad is sadder, and the love is more in love. More songs about loss and being lost. This moment is the culmination of their growth after their well-received and heavily toured debut EP, Bomber, split released via tastemaker tape labels Julia's War and Suburban Creep. Bomber will be featured on the B-Side of Come Back Down, marking the first time the first EP will be available on vinyl.
High. has had a busy year of live performances thus far, from touring around the U.S. with contemporaries like all under heaven, She’s Green, Shut Ups, Interlay and Birthday Girl to rocking local opening slots with DIIV, Soul Blind, Narrow Head and Been Stellar. It all continues this fall, with shows supporting Lip Critic and Greet Death.
Around the tucked-away town of Boonton, NJ in 2021, Christian Castan (vocals/ guitar), Bridget Bakie (bass/vocals), Jack Miller (drums), and Danny Zavala (guitar) formed High. Creative nucleus Christian Castan and Bridget Bakie met while playing the DIY and college circuit around New Jersey building Bakie’s reputation as “The Queen of The Quarter Note,” and Castan’s profile as an unforgettable guitarist. After playing in a band together, the two longed for a project that would be their sole creative focus and could tour as far and wide as possible. A few weeks and two practices after their formation, the band began playing shows around the tristate DIY circuit after their proper NYC debut at Saint Vitus.
Come Back Down's first sessions started in June 2023 when the band and producer Matthew Molnar decamped to the Greenpoint studio of Patrick Wimberly (Chairlift) to test new material with engineer Sam Darwish. The band also brought the tracks to Shane Furst and his Cloud Factory Studios to review their recent work and begin the next stages of completion. That fall, the band took a break from the sessions to do a week long tour with Austin's STAB as well as supporting several tour dates with longtime heroes DIIV. Filling out their schedule were opening dates for Glare, Lowertown and A Place To Bury Strangers, as well as a Midwest run with Chicago band Smut. After nationwide shows, the band finished the EP with Jeff Ziegler at his Uniform Recording in Philly, whose work on Nothing.'s seminal record Guilty of Everything greatly inspired the group.
