Flipturn is definitely something we needed
(originally published February 17, 2020)
Five years ago Flipturn, a modern indie band, played their first-ever concert at the High Dive in Gainesville, Florida. There were maybe 40 people in the audience - most of which were family and friends.
This past Saturday, they returned to the venue for a sold out show.
The concert was in such high demand they actually opened up a second date. It’s the band’s first destination on their tour following the release of their third EP, Something You Needed.
“This is dream-come-true kind of stuff,” said bassist Madeline Jarman.
Dillon Basse (lead vocalist), Tristan Duncan (lead guitar), Adrian Walker (drums) and Jarman grew up in a small town in northeast Florida called Fernandina beach.
The group came together during their senior year of high school in December of 2015, and it seemed like something out of a movie. There were no local bands in the area to look up to. No one was doing anything like this. It was honestly corny as shit, Basse admitted.
It may have seemed cringy to be jamming in the garage of their parents' house, but something really clicked.
Flipturn took their talents to Gainesville to study at the University of Florida while they worked on their music. It didn't take long for them to become a staple of the Gainesville community.
At every Flipturn show, there is tangible chemistry between the band members and the audience. Their energy is contagious. They’re one of the few bands that sounds even better live.
Madeline explains that they have a special connection with younger audiences. Their lyrics resonate with college-age students, diving into the shared experiences.
The title track of the latest EP, “Something You Needed,” is supposed to capture the idea of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a psychological theory.
No need to open up your PSY101 textbook for the first time - the theory essentially says that every human has five needs: self-actualization, esteem, love and belonging, safety, and physiological needs.
Basse said each of the five songs on the EP loosely or more explicitly covers a human need. Deep, right?
Basse said each of the five songs on the EP loosely or more explicitly covers a human need. Deep, right?
Flipturn may hit home with college students, but they are absolutely expanding their audience, Basse said. The band just announced they will be opening for Mt. Joy in May during the Florida leg of their tour.
Have these soon-to-be big time artists signed with anyone? Nope.
They did join Swamp Records, the student-run record label, their junior year at UF. They loved the support from the Swamp Records team and enjoyed working with likeminded people looking to make it in the industry one way or another.
But, as momentum picked up last year, the band members still in school shifted their academics to 100% online and they all moved back home.
They knew they’d be on the road a lot more during the semester and they’re managing to juggle both school and their accelerating career.
“Now we’re able to tour around and not have to be bound by exams and classes,” said Jarman.
Flipturn works with a booking agency, Atlas Touring, that has been “immensely helpful,” but otherwise, they’re killing it on their own.
Basse says their tours so far have been a blast, and they are all stocked for this upcoming tour and the future of the band.
Do yourself a favor and catch one of their shows if you can.
