Social Cinema released their new single “Deadly,” taken from their debut full-length Don’t Get Lost, which will arrive October 2 via Midtopia. The track pairs sharp brit/art pop grooves with the dual vocals of Griffin Bush and Mari Crisler, building from a stripped-down refrain into an airy chorus. Bush explained the visual inspiration behind the music video: “The music video was inspired by ‘What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?’ from 1963. I wanted to give a paranoid feeling throughout.”
The band took their time putting together Don’t Get Lost, choosing not to rush their first album. “It’s kind of like all of our albums already exist,” drummer Logan Bush said. “They’re out there, and we just have to go find them.” The project started to take shape in early 2024, following years of steady output. In their first three years, Social Cinema released 22 songs, including two EPs and a compilation that grouped together earlier singles.
Frontman Griffin Bush said many of those early songs were written to build out their live shows, which have been the group’s strength since their beginning. Known for high-energy sets filled with sharp dance rhythms disguised as rock songs, Social Cinema’s performances led to their inclusion on NIVA’s 2025 “Live List” of rising acts, alongside artists like Doechii, Jessica Pratt, and Mannequin Pussy.
For their debut album, the band worked with producer Jeremy Wurst at B-24 Studios in Kansas City. Recording sessions stretched throughout 2024, with each visit refining their sound. “We wanted to make the most interesting pop song possible in three minutes,” Griffin said. The result is a collection designed to grab listeners quickly while also rewarding repeated listens.
Don’t Get Lost finds Social Cinema moving beyond their reputation as a “live” band. The album highlights their attention to craft while retaining the urgency of their stage presence. With its mix of energy, precision, and pop ambition, the record presents Social Cinema as a fully realized group at a pivotal moment in their career.
“Deadly” captures the tension at the heart of brit/art pop, balancing cool restraint with sudden bursts of melody. The song’s lean groove and layered vocals feel both sharp and understated, drawing on the lineage of bands like Blur or Elastica while carving its own place in the genre. What makes it stand out is how Social Cinema use that framework not as nostalgia, but as a way to push their sound forward — crafting music that feels precise yet emotionally charged, and showing why their debut has the potential to expand the boundaries of modern pop-rock.
With Don’t Get Lost, Social Cinema step into a new chapter that captures both their restless live spirit and their precise studio vision. The album shows a band unafraid to experiment with pop structure while staying rooted in the urgency that first won them fans on stage. As they head out on tour with Sego this fall, Social Cinema are not just introducing their debut, they’re making the case for themselves as one of the most exciting new acts shaping the direction of indie rock and pop right now.