We Speak Indie Artist
comets near me’s Debut EP “Don’t Pick the Flowers” Delivers Indie Gold
San Jose’s latest indie sensation, comets near me, have burst onto the scene with their debut EP, “Don’t Pick the Flowers,” and it’s nothing short of a revelation. Maria and Kyle, the dynamic duo behind the name, have crafted a four-track journey that’s as raw and real as it gets, straight from their backyard shed to our ears.
Starting things off with a bang, “Pedestal” is a cheeky takedown of self-righteous moralizers. With lyrics like, “You judge someone that you don’t know for things they can’t control. It must get lonely in the corner on your pedestal,” this track pulls no punches. The infectious beat and catchy guitar riffs set the stage for an EP that’s both thought-provoking and fun.
“Hallway Light” is the heart of the EP, blending introspective lyrics with a mesmerizing soundscape. Maria’s vocals, paired with twinkling bells, create an atmosphere that’s both nostalgic and eerily beautiful. The song tackles the absurdities of childhood beliefs and adult disillusionments, asking questions like, “Why were we told to believe in Santa?” It’s a contemplative piece that lingers long after the last note.
Next up is “The Last Time I Saw Him,” a melancholic ballad that tells a haunting story of a friend lost to a downward spiral. The gentle finger-picked guitar and Maria’s poignant delivery make this track a standout. It’s a stark reminder of the fragility of human connections and the pain of watching someone slip away. The lyrics, “He knows so many people but they just know his name,” hit hard with their stark realism.
Closing the EP is “Purgatory,” a track that beautifully captures the feeling of being stuck in life’s in-between moments. With lines like, “Maybe in a month, maybe in a year, I can find the strength to leave the comfort of the bed,” the song speaks to anyone who’s ever felt lost or paralyzed by indecision. The melody is both soothing and uplifting, a perfect end to a deeply introspective journey.
“Don’t Pick the Flowers” isn’t just an EP; it’s an experience. Maria and Kyle have managed to create something that’s deeply personal yet universally relatable. Their story of meeting by chance and creating music in a shed is the stuff of indie dreams, and it shines through in every note and lyric.
The EP’s title, inspired by a funny run-in with a park ranger, serves as a metaphor for the organic process of growth and self-discovery. It’s a reminder to let things unfold naturally, without rushing or forcing the outcome.
comets near me have delivered a debut that’s both fresh and timeless, capturing the essence of what it means to be young, confused, and hopeful. “Don’t Pick the Flowers” is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates music with heart, soul, and a touch of whimsy. Keep an eye on this duo – they’re just getting started, and we can’t wait to see where they go next.
There’s a particular kind of hunger that defines a band on the verge — that combustible mix of raw talent, hard-won momentum, and the unmistakable sense that everything they’ve been building is about to break wide open. The Chads, the pop-punk-ska fireballers out of Sayville, New York, have that hunger in abundance. And in 2026, they are ready to feed it.
The foundation is already in place. The four-piece — Joy, Mike, Mark, and Santino — spent the past year stacking wins that most bands spend a decade chasing. They took home the WEHM Battle of the Bands, earned a coveted spot on the Jumbalaya Stage at the Great South Bay Music Festival, and walked into a WPIX Morning Show segment that put their faces and their music in front of a New York City-wide audience. For a band still in the early stages of their career, it is a résumé that commands attention.
Their debut single “The Neighbors” — a razor-sharp, high-energy pop-punk-ska hybrid pulled straight from a true story of Long Island life — announced their arrival with a wink and a riff. Tongue-in-cheek in tone but tight as a drum in execution, the song showcases exactly what makes The Chads stand out in a crowded regional scene: they can make you laugh and make you move at the same time, which is a far rarer skill than it sounds. The track is available on Spotify and has been making steady inroads on radio, building the kind of organic buzz that no marketing budget can manufacture.
Now comes the next chapter. The Chads are heading into Dream Studios with producer Jason Mekler to record their new EP — a project that represents the most significant creative investment of their career to date. Mekler’s production experience combined with the band’s live-honed instincts makes for a pairing with serious promise. If “The Neighbors” was the introduction, the EP is the statement — the recorded proof that what audiences have been experiencing in clubs and on festival stages across Long Island translates just as powerfully through speakers.
The tri-state area has been the proving ground. The world is next.
Pop-punk has always thrived on authenticity — on bands that sound like they mean it, that write songs about real places and real people and real absurdities of everyday life.
The Chads check every one of those boxes. They are a Long Island band in the truest sense: specific enough to feel genuine, relatable enough to travel far beyond the island that made them.
Watch for the EP. Watch for the tour dates. Watch for the name.
The Chads are coming — and they are bringing Sayville with them.
Watch The Chads “MFH” music video on youtube here:
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