“The title track is a reflection on the new gilded age we’re living in and inequality in general,” says producer and multi-instrumentalist Phil Galloni of alt pop solo project WAVERLY DRIVE about his synth-drenched focus track “Decadence.” “Conceptually many aspects of the album revolve around the concept of disparity, with decadence referring to the decline of society due to the excessive inequality,” he adds.
Taken from his synonymously titled debut album (release date: September 16, 2025, independently), the track will be released alongside its B-side “Notes from the Underground.” “This track is a reflection on my time early in LA, ten years back, living a few blocks from Skid Row downtown. A song for all the people deep in their life’s journey who feel lost in the shadows, lost in the dream, finding their true self, but alone in wild, new territories.”
In Phil’s own words, his debut LP Decadence presents “reflections on a dystopian world where nothing is as it ever seems… a world in which the ruler’s nowhere to be found, a concealed outlaw behind the screen… a world in which the caregiver brings roses to the forlorn lover on a rainy day… a world where Cinderella waits, though her prince is lost in decadence and the hero stands guard at the gates of Eden where the stakes are high while the passerby’s temped by a debutante in a limousine. A decadent world, indeed.”
Decadence is an immersive listening experience, uncovering a world that’s flipped upside down. The album opens with the propulsive pulse of “Gates of Eden,” immediately immersing the listener in its driving energy before seamlessly exploring the lush, synth-drenched textures of “Decadence.” The tempo picks up with the grooving rhythm of “Dance Tonite,” which propels the momentum forward into the sun-soaked, indie warmth of “Lazy Day.” The album then shifts into a more introspective space, delving into the calming, ethereal tones of “Luxury” and floats into the dreamlike state of New Wave-inspired “Debutante in a Limousine,” following luscious, empathetic “Roses on a Rainy Day,” The mood shifts and pulls into the dark, mysterious “Notes From The Underground,” lifting into the bright and airy “Tenderness.” and closing out the album, “The First Time,” leaves the listener in a quiet space of shimmery introspection.
Waverly Drive is the solo project of Phil Galloni, a studio engineer/producer and multi-instrumentalist. The Chicago native who has been running Voltiv Sound (Los Angeles, est. 2015) released the debut EP Living in a Fantasy in Nov 2022, EP2 Now I Know in July 2023, and EP3 Push My Luck in May 2024. The music evokes some of the musician’s influences in the indie rock, new wave, indie pop, and electro pop realms, and is perfect for a drive up the coast, daydreaming, and learning to escape the absurdities of life.
Phil has been written up for his work in publications including The Line of Best Fit, The 405, Clash Magazine, Deli Magazine, Post Punk, Mystic Sons, Psychedelic Baby, Good Music Radar, We Write About Music, and more for his work as a solo musician and producer/engineer for others. During his time as sole proprietor at Voltiv Sound, Phil has worked with countless musicians/bands, including: Magic Wands, Monica Martin, Cassidy Place, Family Company, DPR Cream, D’Arcy, Joe Sumner, Hey Boy, and many others.
Several studio musicians contributed to LP, including Chris Valentine (Magic Wands), Alex Kyhn (Macy Gray, Family Company), Egan Rice, Russ Mitkowski (French Montana, The Weeknd), Cary Lane (Wild Party), Dexy Valentine (Magic Wands), and Kathrene Gawel (True Vacation). Songs written/recorded/mixed by Phil Galloni and mastered by Steve Hall (Tom Petty, Flaming Lips, Madonna).
WAVERLY DRIVE‘s new album Decadence is due out independently on September 16, 2025. Listen to the focus track “Decadence” Here and the B-side single “Notes From The Underground” Here.