DIIV

Formed in New York in 2011 by singer and guitarist Zachary Cole Smith, DIIV combines elements of dream pop, shoegaze, indie rock, and grunge. Originally called Dive, the group began as a solo project by Smith, who had previously been a member of the bands Soft Black and Beach Fossils.

In 2012, DIIV released its debut album, Oshin, on the Captured Tracks label. The album received critical acclaim and appeared on best-of lists for that year published by outlets such as Stereogum and Pitchfork.

In the years that followed, Zachary Cole Smith struggled with substance abuse. After completing a rehabilitation program, the musician began working on new compositions. The result was Is the Is Are, the group’s second album, released in February 2016. The album featured Sky Ferreira on “Blue Boredom (Sky’s Song)” and was well received by critics.

After another period of recovery for Smith, the group returned in 2019 with Deceiver, an album that featured a denser, heavier sound, bringing DIIV even closer to shoegaze and 1990s alternative rock.

In May 2024, the band released its fourth album, Frog in Boiling Water, produced by Chris Coady. The title and themes of the album refer to the chapter “The Boiling Frog” from the novel The Story of B (1996) by American author Daniel Quinn. The band used the metaphor of the frog subjected to gradual heating to address the slow deterioration of society and the normalization of the consequences of contemporary capitalism.

The band’s fifth album, ZIRP!, is scheduled for release on October 30, 2026, via Fantasy Recordings. Produced by A. G. Cook, known for his work with Charli xcx, Caroline Polachek and Jónsi, the album was introduced by the singles “The Fountain” and “Kid” and marks a more melodic direction in the band’s career.