In 1998, British alt-rock band bôa dropped their breakout single “Duvet,” a sweeping anthem that went on to soundtrack the Japanese cult-classic anime Serial Experiments Lain. Nearly two decades later, “Duvet” re-emerged anew on TikTok, igniting a feverish renewed interest in the band (today “Duvet” boasts over 450m streams on Spotify alone) and inspiring bôa to return to the studio to record their first new music in over 20 years.
In between, the members of bôa have simply lived life. Their extended hiatus, which began in 2004, brought no hostility, no dejection, no gripes. Vocalist-guitarist Jasmine Rodgers studied zoology, alongside releasing solo music. Bassist Alex Caird threw himself into art, painting, and teaching music. And drummer Lee Sullivan ensconced himself in family life while writing and producing music. That time apart gave them a heap of life’s experiences for a new, third official full-length album Whiplash (out October 18, Nettwerk), a collection of melody-driven narratives. The album’s title is multifaceted, referencing their personal highs and lows, but also our collective cultural unrest. Whiplash, however, chisels away at both — envisioning a community in pursuit of solace.
Now with new music and as their TikTok fanbase will tell you, those universal sentiments — pain, solitude, triumph — immediately transcend any generational divide. And that’s how 25 years later, bôa feels impossibly new again. bôa is compelling proof that time is indeed a circle.
