NYC’s dreamgaze outfit Panik Flower delves into the suffocating loops of digital dependence with their latest single, “OCD.”
The track, which stands for “obsessive consumption diet,” arrives as the second release from their upcoming EP, Rearview, set to drop on April 30. A swirling mix of airy yet urgent guitars, haunting vocal layers, and an unrelenting rhythm section, “OCD” captures the cyclical nature of media addiction—gripping, immersive, and impossible to escape.
“The song explores the obsessive and addictive relationship we have with media consumption in today’s world and how that shapes us as individuals,” explains vocalist Sage Leopold. “It has a complete chokehold on our daily functions even when you’re aware of how toxic it is. The chorus really drives this point home with the repetition of the lines ‘you catch yourself but you can’t catch a break, you catch yourself but you can’t look away.’”
The single arrives with an official video directed by Aji Bass, emphasizing the interplay between stability and chaos. Filmed at Porter Studio in Brooklyn with additional shots in upstate New York, the video juxtaposes composed wide shots of the band performing—representing reality—against erratic, fragmented imagery that mirrors intrusive thoughts. “We wanted to lean into a grungy ‘90s aesthetic and let the themes of the song guide the edit,” says Bass. “The video quickly devolves into an implied destabilized mental state by the first chorus. Intrusive thoughts make their way into the video in the form of quick, frenetic cuts and a mysterious silhouetted figure who appears and disappears.”
Guitarist Jordan Buzzell cites the influence of early alternative visuals, noting that they looked to ‘90s classics like Sonic Youth’s “Bull In the Heather” and Garbage’s “Stupid Girl” for inspiration. “We wanted the ‘OCD’ video to exist across time periods and serve as an homage to the early days of rock music video making.”
Earlier this year, Panik Flower introduced Rearview with the release of “Alkaline,” a track steeped in hazy reverb and driving hooks. The EP follows their 2022 debut Dark Blue, which centered on themes of relationships and emotional complexity. With Rearview, the focus shifts inward—examining identity and self-acceptance through layers of shoegaze textures and post-punk edges. Produced, mixed, and recorded by James Duncan (Taraneh, Nara’s Room, Dead Tooth, Raavi) and mastered by Carl Saff (Drop Nineteens, Dr. Dog, Sonic Youth), the record expands their sonic depth while maintaining their DIY ethos.
The band—Leopold (vocals), Mila Stieglitz-Courtney (guitar/vocals), Buzzell (guitar), Max Baird (bass), and Marco Starger (drums)—has built a name for themselves in the NYC scene, balancing ethereal harmonies with raw, driving instrumentals. Their sound reflects the restless energy of the city itself—constantly shifting, yet unmistakably rooted in its identity.
Panik Flower will take the stage at New York City’s New Colossus Festival this week, with performances at Arlene’s Grocery on March 7 and Berlin on March 8. Rearview drops April 30.
