There are some songs that just hit different when you’re driving. “I’m on the Upside” by Vinyl Floor is absolutely one of those songs.

The Copenhagen rock duo just dropped this track, and it’s the third single from their upcoming album “Balancing Act” that’s coming February 27th. I’ve been playing it on repeat and it’s got this warm, retro vibe that feels like discovering a great record you somehow missed from decades ago, except it’s brand new.

What I really love about this one is that Daniel Pedersen, the drummer and co-founder, is singing lead. There’s something cool about hearing a drummer step up to the mic and tell their own story. His voice has this easygoing quality that fits perfectly with what the song is trying to say. Jakob Gulbrandt Koldenborg on bass keeps everything grounded underneath, and they brought in Daniel Hecht (who’s played with The Breakers and Franklin Zoo) to add extra guitar alongside Thomas Charlie Pedersen.

They recorded it at Studio Möllan in Malmö with Emil Isaksson and Daniel Pedersen producing, then had Søren Vestergaard mix and master it at the Shelter. Whatever they did in there, it worked. The whole thing sounds lived in and natural, like the band just set up and played without overthinking every detail.

The vocal harmonies are gorgeous, layered over this really lively drum groove that moves without feeling frantic. It’s uptempo and guitar driven, pulling from that classic pop and rock sound Vinyl Floor has always been drawn to. You can hear the 60s and 70s British influence they’re known for, but it doesn’t sound dated or like they’re trying to recreate something. It just sounds like them.

Lyrically, this song gets it. It’s about being curious, doing your own thing, and finding peace in your own perspective. There’s this quiet satisfaction in the words, like stepping back from everything and realizing you’re actually okay with where you are. It’s not preachy or trying to convince you of anything. It’s just honest.