Photo by Josh Deangelis
Tired of bad summer flings and cringey dive bar encounters? Same. That’s why we’re so here for garbagebarbie’s new single “KISS,” a fizzy, fuck-you garage-pop anthem that makes heartbreak sound like a runway show—and LA’s dating scene feel like one giant red flag parade.
Out now via all DSPs, “KISS” is the latest glitter bomb from the genre-chaotic quartet, and it’s equal parts satire, seduction, and sadboy spiral. If Gossip Girl hooked up with The Strokes in the bathroom of Zebulon, you might get something close to this.
“KISS” ME, BUT MAKE IT IRONIC
Written like a sugar-coated middle finger to performative romance, “KISS” is playful on the surface but totally unhinged underneath—just like that ex who made you download astrology apps. With production by Brandon Shoop (Role Model, Junior Varsity), mixing from Michael Coleman (Chappell Roan), and mastering by Théo Quayle (Pink Skies), it’s both sonically polished and emotionally grimy.
“We wanted to poke fun at forcing yourself to fall in love, and then being surprised when it actually happens,” says frontman Fletcher Milloy. “Thinking it’s superficial, and then realizing it hit you harder than you thought.”
That tension—between cool detachment and emotional disaster—is the song’s secret weapon. Britpop glam meets indie sleaze, but with the self-awareness of someone who’s definitely seen Her too many times.
THE VIDEO: LIPSTICK ADVERT OR CULT RECRUITMENT?
The official video for “KISS,” directed by Bethany Shrock, feels like a fever dream pulled from your phone at 3AM. It’s part TikTok beauty ad, part surrealist performance art—a nod to the influencer-industrial complex that’s taken over LA like a ring light fungus.
“We wanted it to feel like a lipstick ad you’d scroll past on social media,” says guitarist Braedon Huff. “Except it’s us. And it’s kind of… falling apart.”
And that’s the point. It’s fake, it’s fabulous, and it’s completely sincere in its insincerity. Just like dating in 2025.
SUMMER SHOWS — CHAOS AHEAD
garbagebarbie are bringing their trash-glam universe on the road this week:
• July 23 — Headlining The Rebel Lounge in Phoenix
• July 25 — Hitting the stage at Denver’s Underground Music Showcase
Expect wigs, sweat, visuals pulled from an AI-powered VHS tape, and possibly a mosh pit filled with rhinestones. If you know, you know.
GARBAGEBARBIE: DIY OR DIE
Formed by Fletcher Milloy, Braedon Huff, Anson Knopp, and Daniel Karasev, garbagebarbie started in Phoenix’s DIY scene before relocating to LA, where they built a cult following by hosting free shows, designing their own single artwork, and creating chaotic visual identities for every release.
They call them garbageparties. We call them religion.
The band’s past work—like the glitchy anxiety of “thinklikeido” or the vulnerable shimmer of “coldasice”—showcased a range that felt unpredictable but intentional. But with “KISS,” they’ve found a sonic sweet spot that’s bratty, bruised, and completely addictive.
Their influences range from Blur and LCD Soundsystem to French disco and The Garden, but their identity is all their own: part Myspace-era nostalgia, part postmodern pop commentary, and part community-building art project.
“We want our music to feel nostalgic, like a song you think you’ve heard before—but can’t quite place,” says Huff.
Mission accomplished.
FINAL THOUGHTS: BE A GARBAGEBARBIE
With “KISS,” garbagebarbie aren’t trying to fit into your algorithm—they’re trying to burn it down and rebuild it with glitter and duct tape. It’s a track you’ll want to scream out of a car window, text to your ex, or slap over a clip of you deleting your dating apps at midnight.
Don’t be trashy. Be a garbagebarbie.
And for the love of God, don’t fall in love this summer—unless it sounds like this.
“kiss” feels like both a love letter and a middle finger to the LA dating scene. Which came first — the satire or the sincerity?
*They honestly both came at the same time. Although the song has some serious commentary about what dating in LA is like, we like to poke fun at the things we witness and experience every single day, whether it’s our friends going back to their exes a million times, trying to avoid a situationship at our local dive or getting catfished on a dating app, we’ve seen it all. We have friends ask us for dating advice all the time. The song does lean a little bit to the satirical side and is a little nod to the influencer culture here in LA as well.
You’ve said the video is styled like a lipstick ad gone wrong. If garbagebarbie were a beauty brand, what would your signature product be?
*honestly the lipstick.. like we have it made already. patented. FDA tested. Jennifer Coolidge approved.
Nostalgia seems to seep into everything you do — from your visuals to your hooks. Why do you think we’re all still chasing ghosts from the past?
*I think the music and art that people ingest, make, and find meaningful is always coming from a place of nostalgia or familiarity. I think it’s a comfort. Kind of like a home cooked meal. We are constantly yearning to soak up culture from times in history we weren’t around for.
Your shows have this sweaty, chaotic, warehouse energy that feels almost extinct in LA right now. How intentional was creating that kind of DIY community?
*Creating this community has evolved into everything we wanted it to be. We set out to create a space that we could see ourselves being a part of and to also create shows that’d we want to attend ourselves. When we first moved to LA, there wasn’t really a scene that we could find where everyone could be themselves and dance without judgement. Being a band for everybody is what we are all about. Come to our shows, dance how you want, wear what you want and be yourself.
You’re playing Phoenix and Denver next. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen in a crowd at one of your out-of-town gigs?
*somebody brought a pet rat to a show outside of LA, held it up like a flashlight during one of our slower songs. he was unbothered and vibing, feel like we really had an impact on that little guy.
The whole “manufacturing nostalgia in a digital world” concept is so smart — but also kind of tragic. Do you ever worry that aesthetic starts overshadowing authenticity?
Whether it’s the music itself or a means of promoting it, I think the passion for something creative also represents authenticity even if the subject matter is bleak. We feel that everything we make comes from an honest place and it’s up to the audience to decide how they feel about it. If people feel nostalgic when listening to or interacting with our band, good. If our portrayal of nostalgia in a digital world pisses people off, that’s even better.
Fletcher said it’s easy to change yourself until you’re unrecognizable for love. Have you ever caught yourselves doing that with the band — bending too much to fit expectations?
*the band is the safe space for all four of us to never capitulate to the opinions of others. If anything we push ourselves to exceed the standards and expectations of art that impresses us.
Your sound flips between eerie post-punk, Britpop-y hooks, and even French disco. What’s the one influence you’re embarrassed to admit you’ve borrowed from?
*there’s never anything that an artist or band should be embarrassed about enjoying and being influenced by. We have had Ozzy Osborne on our minds today due to his recent passing, and while Black Sabbath isnt exactly adjacent to our sound, we’ve always been inspired and influenced by the honesty captured in those recordings and the healthy reverence and respect in his lyrics for the very real dark themes of life. He sang about horrors but made sure to always leave the door open so a little light could come in and guide you out. We also f*ck with musicals so there’s that.
Let’s talk garbageparties. What’s the most unhinged thing someone has brought or done at one of your shows?
*one of our fans showed up as a garbagebarbie wearing nothing but a black plastic trash bag as a dress. hair was done up crazy, make up and mascara smeared like she just went through the biggest meltdown of her life. she was the moment.
Finally — your tagline says, “Don’t be trashy, be a garbagebarbie.” What does that actually mean to you, and who embodies that spirit better than anyone else?
*you don’t need to be a dick to be punk. being kind is cool, sticking up for your friends and your community is the biggest f**k you you can say right now. in a world and country that profits off of keeping us hungry, scared and divided, unity with all people is the biggest revolution. be a garbagebarbie is about feeling good about yourself and being there for your neighbor— whether they’re nice to you or not. be the best version of yourself to encourage those around you to do the same.
