DIIV

Born in Brooklyn in 2011 at the initiative of Zachary Cole Smith—initially a personal recording project before becoming a full band—DIIV occupies a space where indie rock intersects with dream pop, shoegaze and post-punk touches. After changing its name from Dive to DIIV, the project quickly embedded itself in the New York scene associated with Captured Tracks, crafting a sound built on layered guitars, hazy melodic lines and a rhythmic approach that is taut yet fluid. DIIV released Oshin in 2012 and Is the Is Are in 2016, a second album developed over a longer period and marked by denser songwriting. The lineup evolved over the years around Smith, Andrew Bailey, Colin Caulfield and Ben Newman, who now form the band's core. With Deceiver in 2019, DIIV emphasized a rougher, heavier dimension, tightening its shoegaze approach without abandoning the airy textures of its early work. Frog in Boiling Water, released in 2024, continues that trajectory with a more direct tone. On stage, DIIV has moved between indie circuits and larger bills, touring with Deafheaven and serving as support for Depeche Mode on several dates in 2023.