Ear Candy: Beat the summer heat with iDKHOW

Dallon Weekes from iDKHOW. They released their latest album in Feb. 2024. Photo courtesy of Manic Project

Jada Hauser | Graphic Designer

Lily Cole | Editor

Ah summer. The time for beaches, sun-kissed skin and staying up until your eyes become heavy, falling asleep with the windows open, with crickets playing a lullaby that just lulls you to sleep.

Ugh, I hate it. I never liked summer. It’s my least favorite season because of the heat. Spring and fall are my favorites, but I do love something about summer: the music.

You’ll find me playing a range of genres, from country to rhythm and blues. Some top artists for this season are N.E.R.D, Rascal Flatts and Frank Ocean–all artists who have a special place in my heart for the heat of summer. But who’s someone that screams summer, you can play all year-round? I don’t know, or maybe I do.

I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME (stylized as iDKHOW) is an indie pop project led by Dallon Weekes in Salt Lake City, Utah. Originally a duo with drummer Ryan Seaman (formerly from The Brobecks, which was Weekes and Seaman’s first band, they formed in 2003).

iDKHOW was formed in secret in 2014. Yep, in secret. Weekes and Seaman would deny that the band existed until they debuted publicly with “1981 Extended Play” in 2018.

They gained attention as “the hottest unsigned band in the world” before signing with Fearless Records. Their debut album, “Razzmatazz”, was released in 2020. After Seaman left the band in 2023, iDKHOW became a solo project, and Weekes released the second album, “Gloom Division,” in 2024. Some of the band’s standout songs are “Clusterhug”, “Bleed Magic” and “DOWNSIDE.”

Every time iDKHOW comes to Michigan, my friends and I have to go. It’s a tradition. We even braved a snowstorm in the dead of winter just to see them perform. Weekes’s stage presence is electric, mirroring what the band represents in a mystifying way.

iDKHOW’s sound mixes 80s synth-pop, alternative rock and new wave, featuring catchy tunes, dramatic basslines and dynamic vocals, making their music both catchy and dark. Playing with themes of media and identity, the band explores the struggles of dealing with fame and how tough it can be to manage one’s self-image, often using satire.

They also touch on feeling alone, having doubts about oneself and wanting to escape the attention. Even though the lyrics can feel dark or heavy, the music is usually upbeat and fun, creating a vibe that combines serious themes with a catchy, retro sound. It’s like they take deep, personal topics and wrap them in cool, danceable tunes.

Drawing inspiration from Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, The Ink Spots and Joe Jackson, Weekes has described the band’s style as “hipster nonsense” and “Glam Wham”. When the band first started, they described themselves as “a band out of time, one that faded into obscurity after struggling to find success in the late 70s and early 80s.”

Their music, look and social media presence are all heavily influenced by the 1980s, and Weekes has said he draws a lot of inspiration from the pop culture of that era.

Don’t drive through a snowstorm to see them in person. Streaming services are perfectly fine for listening to this enigmatic band.

Listen to the soundtrack on Spotify:

Editor’s note: On April 29, 2025, the article’s photo and caption were changed to reflect a more accurate image.