B-Side Guys

Tyke James understands that sometimes loving someone means admitting you need distance from them, a psychological complexity that most indie rock bands either oversimplify or avoid entirely. “Darkness” marks The Moss’s first release in over a year, and the extended break seems to have sharpened their ability to examine emotional contradictions without resolving them into easy answers.

The transition from Oahu beaches to Salt Lake City clearly influenced the band’s sonic evolution, trading tropical brightness for something more introspective without losing their essential warmth. Addison Sharp’s guitar work interweaves with James’s melodies in ways that suggest genuine musical partnership developed through years of collaboration, while Willie Fowler and Caiden Jackson provide rhythmic foundation that supports rather than drives the song’s contemplative nature.

S-Curve Records’ involvement brings production polish that serves The Moss’s organic indie rock approach without sterilizing it. The track maintains the deceptively sunny quality that’s earned them 75 million streams while incorporating enough shadow to justify its title. Their Pinegrove and Kevin Morby influences surface through melodic sensibilities and lyrical directness rather than obvious sonic mimicry.

James’s exploration of cyclical thinking about relationships reveals sophisticated emotional awareness. Rather than presenting needing space as rejection or failure, “Darkness” treats emotional distance as necessary self-care, understanding that healthy relationships sometimes require individual processing time. This represents mature perspective rarely found in indie rock’s typical relationship narratives.

The track’s success following their extensive 2025 touring schedule suggests a band that’s learned how live performance energy translates to studio recordings. Their upcoming EP and Mt. Joy collaboration dates indicate artists comfortable with their place in the indie rock ecosystem without feeling pressure to chase trends or abandon their established strengths.

“Darkness” succeeds by treating emotional complexity as ongoing negotiation rather than problem requiring immediate solution. The Moss continues developing their unique version of relationship realism disguised as sunny indie rock.