DIIV

They say that nowadays, people mostly make music as solo artists, as it’s cheaper and more artistically freeing. However, Diiv are a sign that maybe those acts can start out as solo projects, and then develop into great rock bands later. Frontman Zachary Cole Smith began Diiv as Dive, a name for his solo recordings that he put on Soundcloud.

Soon after he started, his songs started to pick up some recognition. So he put the word out among his friends on New York City’s indie scene, put a live band together and started performing, which got them signed to the label Captured Tracks in early 2012.

It was around this time that Smith changed “Dive” to “DIIV” (pronounced in the exact same way) out of respect for a 1990’s Belgian industrial band of the same name.

By June, their debut album was released. “Oshin” was an instant hit that made a name for themselves on both sides of the Atlantic, playing London’s Alexandra Palace with The Vaccines and doing a tour of their East Coast home turf supporting Japandroids.

The album ended up on the year end lists for Pitchfork, NME and Stereogum among many others and has made the expectation for their second effort sky high.

Of course, this expectation isn’t a problem for Smith; He’ll do what comes naturally to him and only what comes naturally to him. He’s an artist with the world at his feet, and what comes next is an exciting prospect indeed. One to watch like a hawk.