Long Island-based indie rock band Arcy Drive — and one of our Top 5 Artists to Watch from last weekend’s Sips and Sounds Festival — continues to build anticipation for their upcoming LP The Pit with the release of their latest single, “The Itch.” Slated for release on April 18th via AWAL, The Pit marks a major milestone for the rising band. Having spent the past few years carving out their space in the indie rock scene with their raw energy, “The Itch” encapsulates the band’s youthful spirit, blending jangly indie rock with a garage-band edge.
With “The Itch,” Arcy Drive taps into the universal coming-of-age experience, crafting an anthemic track that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly raw. Opening with bright, sun-soaked guitar lines and breezy chord progressions, the song soon erupts into a raucous, shout-along chorus. Nick Mateyunas’ vocals capture the push and pull of youthful uncertainty, while the band delivers a dynamic interplay of pounding drums and distorted guitars, balancing carefree energy with emotional depth.
The song thrives on self-awareness and humor, highlighting the struggles of early adulthood: “We’re too young to be working / And too old to be bitching.” As Mateyunas reflects on the song’s evolution, it becomes clear that “The Itch” is about embracing the journey. The infectious chorus, finally completed in the studio, carries a mix of apprehension and contentment, closing with the line “We’re happy as hell” — a nod to the bliss of not having it all figured out.
Mateyunas says of the track,
“Of the songs that made the album ‘The Itch’ has without a doubt had the longest journey. The song always embodied the energy of people in their early 20s. I wrote the first verse/pre chorus when I was 21 years old, nearing graduation and still feeling insecure about becoming an adult/starting a career.”
