Opening with an all-encompassing instrumental, the tender vocals of HOAX come at a slight surprise in their brand new single, “b?” — the titular serving of their breakthrough album of the same name. But then again, far be it for HOAX – whose modern vintage sensibilities rise them to heights akin to that of Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes – to make a debut with anything less than polished perfection.

And whilst their nostalgia-triggering sounds are enough to satisfy even the sternest of critics, it is the deeply vulnerable philosophy that lies at the crux of their tracks that truly makes up the magic of the two-piece. The titular track of their debut album, “b?”, wastes no time demonstrating exactly this — digging deep into the overarching theme pulsing through the 17-track effort: the simple art of being. Over an easy-going melody that slowly encourages the mind to float, the dreamy duo begin to question how much time we waste by never truly being. Singing of daffodil skies and seasons of blooming, HOAX encourages us to settle into the earth and be still — and ditch the toxic mentality that we must always be doing to live. 

Speaking of their project, Michael Raj says, “Behind all the facades we put up, under all the masks we wear – there we are: Ourselves in Being form. It used to be very hard for me to explain what it meant ‘to be’ to other people. And believe me – I know I am not original in this line of questioning. For God’s sake, we all know what Shakespeare said through Hamlet, but as the album developed, it became clear to me that ‘being’ is synonymous with ‘peace’. And that peace looks different in everyone’s mirror. It starts with self-reflection, and never ends with anything other than life devotion to your truest form. I’ve said it so many times throughout our career, but if there is anything you take away from listening to HOAX and this album, it’s to please prioritize your peace. We are only here for a moment in the blip of infinity, and during that blink, our peace and being will always be under the scrutiny of the randomness and chaos of life. Perfect the art of sitting still, to know yourself, show and embody empathy, and be authentic to your peace.”

From the euphoric top lines of “Wasting Time” to the haunting backing track of “unconditional”, b? employs stratospheric soundscapes that open the gates of our minds, allowing for inhibition-free escapism — where chilled vibes and introspective narratives are in abundance. Whilst it is crystal clear that b? is not your average debut, HOAX are certainly not the typical breakthrough act — but rather, something that has been there all along… patiently waiting for a time when we need them most.

So, to begin your journey to a state of being, head below to stream b? now…