Beauty School Dropout on Their New Single "Fever," and Making Rock Music Fun Again
interview
✦
interview ✦
Los Angeles-based rock band Beauty School Dropout is ushering in another solid era of hits with their latest singles, “On Your Lips” and “FEVER,” which blend scene-era electronic flourishes, grunge-laced guitar melodies, and urgent pop-rock vocals. And, staying true to form, the band continues to evolve without losing the bold, genre-defying energy that’s made them one of the most exciting acts in modern alt-rock.
Formed in 2020 by vocalist Colie Hutzler, bassist Brent “Beepus” Burdett, and guitarist Bardo Novotny, Beauty School Dropout first broke through with their Boys Do Cry EP before delivering two full-length albums—We Made Plans & God Laughed (2022) and Ready to Eat (2023). Outside of their recognizable and unique sound, the band’s meteoric rise has been fueled in part by key mentorship and support from pop-punk legends Mark Hoppus (blink-182) and Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy), who signed BSD to the artist-focused label Verswire.
Since then, BSD has played everywhere from intimate sold-out clubs to massive arenas —including a high-profile run supporting Blink-182—and delivered standout sets at festivals like Lollapalooza and Download Festival. With summer 2025 on the horizon, Beauty School Dropout is back on the road for the Idobi Radio Summer School Tour, along with select Warped Tour dates, promising to bring their chaotic, cathartic energy to new crowds—all while previewing what could be a new phase in their sonic evolution.
Now, with over 60 million global streams and no signs of slowing down, Beauty School Dropout is earning their place as one of the most dynamic and buzz-worthy forces in rock today—and this next wave might just be their most thrilling yet.
Photography: Natasha Austrich
Let’s talk about your latest single, “FEVER”—what initially sparked this track, and how would you describe its overall vibe?
Colie Hutzler: We were kind of soul-searching for what this album was ultimately going to feel like and we wanted it to be something that felt equally as strong and fast as it did exciting and bouncy.
How does “FEVER” build on the sound or energy of “ON YOUR LIPS”? Are they connected in any way, or are they totally different beasts?
Bardo Novotny: They are different beasts in a way. They are two separate sides of the album. FEVER is our fast moment and ON YOUR LIPS is our heavier moment, but they’re both telling the same overarching story thematically. They’re each a chapter in the book.
What’s a lyric from “FEVER” that hits different for you? And looking ahead, is “FEVER” a hint at what’s coming next, or is it more of a standalone punch before the next big wave?
Brent "Beepus" Burdett: “Blitzkreig top” because it’s hilarious. [And “Fever”] is definitely a hint at one side of the album. Every single is a hint. It’s a foot in the door, a toe if you will.
Photography: Natasha Austrich
You’ve been in the studio, on tour, and at massive festivals lately—how do you typically keep the creative fire going without experiencing the burnout factor?
Bardo Novotny: I feel like the way we avoided burnout this time around was actually by not touring while we were making the album whereas our last album we were on the road and writing at the same time. We took about a year and a half to write this album and we weren’t touring or playing many shows throughout that time so it allowed us a ton of time to dive into the creative process and feel the feelings.
With several shows planned for this summer, what can attendees expect? Any specific tracks that fans can look forward to?
Colie Hutzler: Fans can most definitely be looking forward to hearing all the singles off our new album, as well as the usual antics. Mosh pits, water being sprayed everywhere, Colie smashing more mics into his skull, etc.
If someone hears “FEVER” for the first time and instantly becomes a BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT fan, what’s the one thing you’d want them to know about who you are as a band?
Colie Hutzler: We want our new (and old) fans to know that we’re here to bring people together through music and throwing the most lit parties/shows we can. In a day and age where everyone takes themselves so seriously, we just want to make Rock fun and exciting again. Through that, we heal.
