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Five years ago, The Linda Lindas were a young punk band taking the world by storm. Today, they’re artists navigating what comes next. For a band that has grown up in full view of the world, time has moved quickly, bringing new experiences, challenges, and creative possibilities along the way. Rather than trying to recreate the raw energy that first introduced them to listeners, The Linda Lindas have allowed themselves to evolve, embracing fresh sounds while holding onto the fearless sincerity that has always defined their music. Their latest single, “Closer,” featuring the iconic Hayley Williams, captures that growth in motion, marking another confident step forward for a band that has never been afraid to change.

Serving as the latest preview of their forthcoming third album, Gotta Get Out, “Closer” finds The Linda Lindas expanding their sound without losing the urgency that made them such a compelling force in modern punk. The track trades some of the band’s garage-punk abrasiveness for soaring vocal melodies, layered guitars, and polished production that feels bigger without ever feeling disconnected from their roots.

Williams’ appearance feels like a natural extension of the song rather than a headline-grabbing feature. A longtime supporter of the band, she joined them in the studio to help write the bridge, lending her unmistakable voice to a track that already feels deeply rooted in The Linda Lindas’ identity. The collaboration works because both artists understand the balance between emotional vulnerability and explosive energy.

Lyrically, “Closer” captures the strange tension of watching time move forward while struggling to stay present. Written by Bela Salazar and Lucia de la Garza, the song explores the anxiety of feeling life slip by, with lines like “The smoke’s getting closer, I’m burning inside” and “You just breathe in the dust and pretend that it’s air” capturing the pressure of trying to keep up. Beneath the uncertainty, however, is a quiet resilience: the recognition that change is inevitable, even when it feels overwhelming.

That emotional honesty makes “Closer” such an exciting next step for The Linda Lindas. They are no longer simply proving what they can do; they’re discovering who they want to become. If “Closer” is any sign of what’s coming on Gotta Get Out, The Linda Lindas aren’t leaving their past behind. They’re proving that growing up doesn’t have to mean growing away from yourself.