Meeting in undergrad at Louisiana State University, four students came together as The Bends to release their first song, “Makeup,” as seniors in 2024. A year later, the group performed at Austin City Limits Music Festival following their first EP, Leeward Drive. The Bends are set to return to Austin on Friday at the Historic Scoot Inn, and they will release their first album, If You Insist, on Sept. 18. The Daily Texan sat down with frontman Hayden Field to talk about the band’s progression, upcoming releases and advice for students. 

The Daily Texan: What did it feel like to perform at ACL last year?

Hayden Field: That was surreal for us because that was the first big live show opportunity we had gotten. … I remember two years prior I had been a fan attending and thinking it was the best weekend ever, as somebody just there watching music. … It felt like one of those moments where you’re like, “Okay, yeah. I’m always going to remember this, and this is a milestone for the band. We’re playing a major music festival.” 

DT: Y’all are coming back to Austin on (Sept.) 11. Does that bring any good memories back? 

HF: So excited to come back to Austin. I think as a band, we spent a decent amount of time in Austin and every time we love it. We try and stay longer, like as long as we can, not just for the show. 

DT: Your album comes out after your Austin tour date. Are we going to be able to hear some new stuff at the concert? 

HF: We’re gonna do some unreleased songs, some songs from the album, which will be exciting and fun. Also in that context, you could hear this stuff next week, people know we’re coming out with an album. It feels like playing unreleased music is intentional, but it’s going to be like finding that good mix of songs that are out that people know and can sing along with, versus “we got this album coming out.” 

DT: Y’all are from LSU, so how did you feel being around campus and hearing your songs with other students listening? 

HF: It’s kind of nerve-wracking, making music and then putting it out. It feels like you’re putting yourself up for potential ridicule between your peers, especially in a time like college where you’re young. But I remember the day that we put out our first song, I remember Ian (Marmande), our guitar player, texted in our group and was like, “I heard somebody leaving class. I hear them driving down with their windows down playing our song.” That was such a huge confidence boost. 

DT: A lot of your fans are students, so do y’all write through their perspectives, or do y’all tell your own stories? 

HF: We’re 23 and 24 years old. … I think the experiences that we’re going through and I’m going through and writing about like you said, happen to imitate what other people are going through. … There’s a lot of changes when you’re this age. There’s a lot of loss and meeting people and losing people. I think the circumstances can be similar so where some of the topics of the songs can be relatable to people our age.