Indianapolis DIY heroes Summerbruise are officially levelling up. The self-proclaimed “fake emo” band just signed with SideOneDummy Records—and they’re celebrating the best way they know how: with a painfully honest, painfully catchy new single.
“Never Bothered” is the latest track from the ever-evolving five-piece, and it hits like a diary entry screamed into the void—wrapped in jangly guitars, shout-along hooks, and enough existential weight to keep it grounded. It’s the kind of song that makes you smile while it ruins your whole day. In other words, classic Summerbruise.
At the heart of the track is a devastating story. Vocalist Mike Newman wrote “Never Bothered” about losing a close friend to suicide—and all the emotional wreckage that followed. It’s a bold, raw perspective, and one that doesn’t sugarcoat anything. “The song is about either slowly realizing you can’t help someone you care about, or simply deciding you can’t help someone you don’t care about enough, depending on who you ask,” he says. “Shaun, if you’re reading this somehow, fuck you straight to Hell.”
Despite the heaviness, the band—now made up of Newman, Stanli Fryman (drums), John Parkison (bass), Mitch Gulish and Cora Kunda (guitars)—manages to package the grief in a way that feels light on its feet, even cathartic. Fryman actually helped shape the track from an old idea buried in a Google Drive folder. “The last section of the song is a fun switch,” she explains. “The tension really builds… especially when Mike sings, ‘you cursed the Sun.’” That moment hits, and you’ll feel it.
The band’s knack for balancing tragedy and charm has been central to their identity ever since 2015. But this release feels like a new chapter. “Never Bothered” is their first as a fully-fledged unit, and the sound reflects that unity—richer, tighter, and more daring than ever.
And if you’re itching to hear it live, you’re in luck. Summerbruise hit the road this month with emo buds Equipment, playing select dates across the U.S. with support from Kerosene Heights and Tiny Voices. Whether it’s your first time seeing them or your fiftieth, this tour promises to be a perfect mix of community, catharsis, and pure chaos. Tickets available here!
Summerbruise might still call themselves “fake emo,” but this new era is very real—and it’s only just getting started.
