Southern California’s In Transmission are premiering “Catching Up,” the lead single and video from their new EP Betterment, due out in August 2025. Tracked with producer Beau Burchell (Saosin, Senses Fail, The Bronx), the record marks a shift toward a more vocal-driven, alternative-heavy sound without abandoning the band’s post-rock roots. The single officially drops July 18th.
Formed in 2011 by guitarist/vocalist Martin Diaz (formerly of Mikoto), In Transmission features longtime friends and collaborators Garrett Carroll (drums, A Music Box Serenade), Daniel Cardoza (guitar, A Fall Farewell), Darrell Schwaigger (bass), and Jerome De Leon (guitar). Originally known for instrumental, ambient-heavy compositions influenced by acts like Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky, the band’s evolution has steadily leaned into heavier rhythms and structured vocal work.
“Catching Up” is rooted in the tension between isolation and responsibility, both on personal and social levels. “It’s about how we as humans tend to live in our own little worlds, somewhat oblivious to what is happening outside of our peripherals,” the band shared. “Some people choose to purposely ignore things outside of their everyday lives and I think that ultimately hurts the greater good. When things are ‘out of sight, out of mind’ it’s easy when you don’t care about the world at large. But in many cases, that will come back around and catch up to you in the long run.”
The song speaks to disengagement from the surrounding world—whether local, national, or global—and the ripple effect that apathy can have. The band hopes the song can serve as a reminder: “Some people are more shielded to these impacts than others and our hope is that everyone can recognize that and hopefully make better decisions in their everyday lives with the greater good in mind.”
The accompanying video was shot in a photo studio in Los Angeles with director Cheyne Smith. The band kept the shoot minimal and improvisational. “We knew we just wanted to do a simple / clean performance video and decided to just kind of sort out the shots once we arrived at the space,” they said. “It turns out there was a motorized roundabout on the floor and we thought it would be ‘funny’ to get some shots of us spinning around on that. It turns out those were some of our favorite shots. It’s a good reminder to just try everything and see what you like.”
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Betterment was recorded between Pale Moon Ranch in the San Gabriel Mountains and Burchell’s private studio in Temecula, California. Mastering was done by Alan Douches (West West Side Music). The EP reflects themes of emotional repair, healing, and the inner work that happens between louder moments. Vocals are more central than in the band’s early work, blending with ambient guitars and heavier sonic textures.
In Transmission features members with backgrounds in heavier acts like Beyond Repair and Greed Culture, but here, the focus is on nuance and internal pacing.
They plan to support the release with a handful of Southern California shows.
Catching Up lyrics:
You just turn away from cries that you don’t want to hear
No matter if it’s real or near
You only think about yourself and what you want to do
Forget about the rest of us
If it’s out of sight
It’s out of mind
and that’s alright
When you don’t care
It’s out of sight
It’s out of mind
Lets all see
When it catches up to you
You close your eyes to things you don’t try to understand
Live inside your selfish world.
Every time another dies I try to figure out
How to get it through to you
If it’s out of sight
It’s out of mind
And that’s alright
When you don’t care
It’s out of sight
It’s out of mind
Lets all see
When it catches up to you
When it catches up to you
When it catches up to you
For all the times you don’t, I try for high ground
just think outside of your life
for all the others right now
And you should try
If it’s out of sight
It’s out of mind
And that’s alright
When you don’t care
If it’s out of sight
It’s out of mind
Lets all see
When it catches up to you
When it catches up to you
