Brooklyn trio wakelee pair indie rock, emo, and alternative rock with lived-in songwriting and big melodic hooks. Their second album, under construction forever, arrives October 9, 2026 via Wax Bodega.
Brooklyn trio wakelee return with under construction forever , out October 9, 2026 via Wax Bodega. The 11-track album pushes their indie rock and emo foundation into bigger, more atmospheric territory while keeping the band’s direct, lived-in songwriting at the center. RIYL: Jimmy Eat World. Hotline TNT, Hot Mulligan, This is Lorelei
Brooklyn trio wakelee is set to release their self-titled 12-track indie/emo album produced by Brian DiMeglio. Featuring bouncy hooks and catchy choruses, their music appeals to fans of 5th wave emo revival, similar to artists like Bartees Strange and Stay Inside.
Brooklyn trio wakelee have announced their second album, under construction forever, out October 9 via Wax Bodega. Guided by longtime collaborator Zach Aumueller with additional production from Hot Mulligan guitarist Chris Freeman, the 11-track record pushes the band’s indie rock and emo roots into a bigger, more atmospheric direction.
Along with the announcement, wakelee have shared lead single “Joyce Kilmer Service Area.” Named after the New Jersey Turnpike rest stop between New York and Philadelphia, the track pairs driving guitars and a blistering chorus with a look at familial strain and the emotional fallout of watching someone you love repeatedly struggle to hold themselves together.
Check out “Joyce Kilmer Service Area” below. under construction forever arrives October 9 via Wax Bodega.
Brooklyn trio wakelee have shared “Statue,” the latest single from their forthcoming second album, under construction forever, arriving October 9 via Wax Bodega. Following “Joyce Kilmer Service Area,” the new song returns to the strain of family relationships, this time focusing on the point where empathy gives way to exhaustion. The details are specific—shared back pain, a wedding, forgotten passwords—and make the emotional stakes feel close to home.
Across its 11 tracks, under construction forever finds wakelee expanding on their raw, hook-heavy blend of emo, indie punk, and indie pop, pairing anthemic guitar-driven moments with atmospheric arrangements and deeply personal songwriting. Drawing from the melodic immediacy of Jimmy Eat World and oso oso, the emotional weight of The Hotelier, and the scrappy punk energy of PUP, the band pushes its sound in new directions without losing the urgency and infectious hooks that make their music so appealing. At its core, the album is about accepting that growing up, figuring things out, and becoming the person you want to be is always a work in progress.
The album was guided by longtime collaborator Zach Aumueller, with additional production from Hot Mulligan guitarist Chris Freeman. wakelee will mark its release with shows in Media, Pennsylvania, on October 23 and Brooklyn on October 24, before heading out with Hot Mulligan, One Step Closer, and Riley! this fall.
Listen to “Statue” on Spotify below and watch the official music video. Find album details and pre-order information on our release page.