Asian indie pop duo corner club unveils their introspective new EP, ‘no refunds’, today, with the indie rock focus track, “maplecrest drive”. With a powerful, distinctive sound, “maplecrest drive” sets the tone for an EP that explores themes of love, nostalgia, and self-acceptance.
Their third EP, ‘no refunds’ chronicles the endless ups and downs of finding self-actualisation and acceptance. Through unexpected symbols—a love story told through a donut, a childhood folklore represented by clementines—the EP’s provocative songwriting oscillates between the metaphorical and literal, leaning heavily on unexpected objects to express themes around love, childhood, and finding your truth. Of the EP, lead vocalist, Savannah, shares: “It’s been a period of discovering new inspirations and versions of ourselves.”
Written, produced, and mixed entirely within the home studio the band built out of a former furniture warehouse, the EP presents a new level of raw energy and creative whimsy for the duo, once again showcasing their distinctive ability to marry immersive storytelling with a myriad of sonic worlds.
The EP’s focus track, “maplecrest drive”, is an indie rock anthem about the loss of self that often accompanies our transitions into adulthood. Alternating between light, nostalgia-twinged acoustic verses and heavy, guitar-driven choruses, the track embodies the whiplash of these experiences. Building from a soaring guitar solo over a hypnotic sea of chants, the climax brings the entire band and vocals to their maximum intensity, culminating the theatrical production.
corner club is the moniker of indie pop duo Savannah Du and Michael Zhang, whose journey is a testament to the power of creative collaboration. From their early days as schoolmates, where Savannah and Michael first connected through an a cappella group, to their current rise as recording artists with a steadily growing following, they’ve carved out a distinctive niche in the music world.
The duo has since transformed their casual post-work jam sessions into polished, self-produced tracks. These songs, created in the comfort of their bedrooms, resonated with a global audience, leading to the formation of corner club in 2018. Their music quickly gained traction, accumulating over 10 million streams and attracting over 200k monthly listeners. They have also shared the stage as co-headliners with Sarah Kang and captivated audiences in their own headlining show. Earlier this year, they partnered with Sofar Sounds and the outdoor apparel brand Arc’teryx for a special performance as part of the ‘Delight in the Detour’ campaign, further establishing their reputation as one of indie music’s exciting emerging acts to watch.
Their work has been featured on various Spotify editorial playlists like Fresh Finds, Dope AF, aesthetic, and New Music Friday across Asia, with their second single, “Manhattanhenge”, landing a spot on Spotify’s Thailand Viral 50. Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia now dominate their top 10 streaming markets, with listeners from these regions consistently pushing their streams to new heights. Reflecting the duo’s growing appeal and fanbase across Southeast Asia, this sustained momentum showcases their ability to resonate with diverse audiences, solidifying their status as rising stars in the global indie pop landscape.
‘no refunds’ Tracklisting:
1. no refunds
2. clementines
3. donut hole
4. maplecrest drive
5. i don’t wanna die just yet
