“rearview” By Panik Flower Turns Self-Doubt Into Sonic Bloom
- Charles Luberisse
- May 2
- 2 min read
Written By: Big C
Some mirrors don’t lie, but they rarely show the whole picture. NYC dreamgaze ensemble Panik Flower confronts the chaos of self-awareness in their riveting sophomore rearview. Fusing jagged guitar layers with poetic vulnerability, the six-track project explores identity through deliberate contrasts. Produced by James Duncan and mastered by Carl Saff, "rearview" is a sonic tightrope walk through growth, grief, and grit while balancing Sage Leopold’s haunting vocals and spoken word with glimmering melodies and distorted textures. The band’s bond and collaborative process bleed into the tracks, each member contributing sonic layers that build and unravel with poetic intensity. Crediting drummer Marco’s arrival as the missing element in their evolving chemistry, bassist Max Baird shares:
This EP felt like us really finding our footing
Directed by Harleigh Shaw, the official video for the title track drops alongside the EP, an anxiety-fueled descent inspired by David Lynch and Natural Born Killers, depicting Sage as she runs from a terrifying version of herself. Following sets at New Colossus Festival and Elsewhere with King Hannah, Panik Flower will headline their "rearview" EP release show at Night Club 101 on May 21, before embarking on their first major tour across the Northeast this June. With this album, the band doesn't just define their sound, they challenge the listener to look inward and sit with the noise. Stream the EP now, watch the horror-tinged “rearview” video below, and follow Panik Flower on Instagram, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.
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