PETE FIJ – “COMPLICATED”
TIP TOP RECORDS
Pete Fij has released his new LP Up’s The New Down via Tip Top Records, which arrives alongside his single “Complicated.” Built around post-punk guitars and a feeling of pent-up desire, the track brings a raw energy while keeping Fij’s knack for melody at its core. The song builds a sense of tension throughout, with the guitars adding to its passion and drive as Fij explores a more stripped-back and energetic side of his sound.
Speaking on the track, Fij says, “I wanted to get that feral energy of pent up passion, and post-punk guitars seemed to be the best medium to express that.” The result is a track that embraces that feeling head-on, using its post-punk edge to give the song’s simmering energy and restless momentum. “Complicated” sees Fij pushing into a sharper, more visceral side of his sound while retaining the melodic sensibility and understated charm that runs throughout his work.
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: PETE FIJ – “COMPLICATED”
With Up’s The New Down, Fij continues to embrace his fuzzed-up dream-pop past while pushing further into pop, electronica, and the sharper edges of post-punk. The album sees him balancing melody and texture with his characteristic wit, resulting in a collection that feels both familiar and newly energized.
Up’s The New Down and its singles “Don’t Bring Me Sunshine,” “Cuckoo,” “Love’s Coming Back,” and “Wake Up Honey” have received praise and support from Brooklyn Vegan, FLOOD, DORK, New Noise, SPILL, Magnet, and many more. Across the album, Fij draws on his unmistakable voice and wry lyrical touch while embracing a more energized approach to his sound, bringing together the fuzzed-up dream-pop sensibilities of his past with elements of pop, electronica, and post-punk. The result is a record that feels melodic, playful, and full of understated charm, while marking a fresh chapter in Fij’s solo work.
Up’s The New Down by Pete Fij is out now.
TRACK FEATURED BY DJ DREAMDOCTOR ON CURRENTS | EPISODE #31
Pete Fij
Up’s The New Down
(Tip Top Records)
Release Date: September 25, 2026
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Background Photo Credit: Dorian Rogers
