Slipfast Issue 01: almost monday
Slipfast Magazine sat down with indie trio almost monday to discuss their sophomore record, THANK GOD IT’S ALMOST MONDAY, and life on tour.
Photographs and words by Claire Hookstra
Design by Talia Newman
Hailing from San Diego, almost monday is known for their bright pop sounds and upbeat production that sonically captures the feeling of summer. Blurring the lines between alt-pop and indie rock, the group found success with “can’t slow down” in 2024 and has hit the ground running since then. From their late-night TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to their most recent nomination for Best New Artist (Alternative) at the 2026 iHeartRadio Awards, almost monday has taken their catchy hooks and grooving riffs to stages worldwide.
THANK GOD IT’S ALMOST MONDAY, the name stemming from past band merch and a play on the classic phrase, “TGIF,” takes those wavy synths and vibrant notes found in the band’s past work and blends them with more rock-based elements, creating a new, more booming sound for the trio. With the punching horns of “thank god it’s almost monday,” the electric vibrato of “class a” and the acoustic nature of “buzz,” the record showcases a diverse range of tracks, all adding up to create the captivating world of the new album. Without diverging too far from the California pop aesthetics of their debut record, DIVE, the group’s new album is 42 minutes of much-needed joy.
“It’s the natural progression of trying to make different sounds and not producing the same thing over and over again,” said bassist Luke Fabry. “A lot of times in the studio we’re taking stabs at trying to do a new type of song, and a lot of the time it doesn’t work. But when it does, it can turn into something really interesting.”
To fully embrace this new era, almost monday introduced new artists they had yet to work with in the process of making the record. “We also branched out with [new] collaborators this time, one being Chase Lawrence,” Fabry continued. Under the influence of Lawrence, the songs “losing streak” and “leaving is easy” bring a more mellow, emotive sound to the pop tracklist.
Meeting up with the band just one month into their North American tour, which will soon go overseas to Europe and Australia in 2027, Slipfast was able to get a glimpse into life on the road. Discussing memorable moments from the shows they had completed so far, the band noted Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Diego as stand-out crowds. “The Observatory was a super cool one,” said guitarist Cole Clisby. It was a sold-out homecoming show for the trio; the band reminisced about playing the space while on tour as an opening act a few years ago. “I remember walking in there and wondering, 'How do people fill this room?” said Fabry.
It’s no surprise The Observatory was filled, for the trio’s live show is something more than just a typical concert. The dynamic energy onstage, which I witnessed firsthand at their sold-out show at Scoot Inn in Austin, Texas, wafted through the humid night, turning the venue into a place of release. The crowd danced along with lead vocalist Dawson Daugherty under vibrantly colored lights, creating a feel-good night that lifted the spirits of the audience.
“enjoy the ride,” brought those more gritty drumlines and vocals found on the record to life, as the crowd waved their hands in the air to “just enjoy the ride.”
The audience gave in to “trying to leave the world behind” during “french kids,” taking in the disco-like production and letting themselves simply groove to the infectiously catchy track.
As we wrapped our chat before the band took the stage, the group established that eye masks, good-quality headphones, and shower shoes earn a spot on the list of the indie rockers’ “must-have” tour essentials, and Raising Cane’s takes the first-place spot for the best post-show grub.
THANK GOD IT’S ALMOST MONDAY is a standout work by almost monday, proving their power player status in the vast indie music sphere today. It mixes feel-good vibes with coming-of-age narratives, contrasts mellow “windows down” jams with vibrant dance tracks, and ultimately serves as a pop-rock record you’ll find yourself reaching for again and again.
Listen to almost monday on Spotify and Apple Music
Find an almost monday show near you here
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