“We Couldn't Be More Excited”: The 502s Sign with Big Loud and Release New Beach Folk Anthem, ‘Summer Fling’

Beach Folk trailblazers, The 502s, have signed with Big Loud Records, with the Florida-based five-piece releasing a brand new single today (May 30th), ’Summer Fling’.

The sun-soaked, feel-good anthem captures the band's mission to spread summer-inspired positivity through their music, with the track following a protagonist who - despite his best intentions - finds himself falling for a holiday romance in the UK.

Rather than lamenting the fleeting nature of this experience, the band's lead vocalist and the songsmith behind ‘Summer Fling’, Ed Isola, decides to embrace the chaos.

Speaking to Holler ahead of the infectious song's release, Isola reflects on how the idea initially came about, “‘Summer Fling’ started in an Airbnb in Nashville, where I was cracking up about how British people call sunglasses sunnies. That one word triggered a whole wave of summer memories - especially a day walking through London eating strawberries and cream under the sun. From there, the song became this part-true, part-imagined whirlwind romance. It’s about all those moments when you meet someone and instantly think, Oh no, I’m in trouble”.

He expands by underlining that ‘Summer Fling’ serves as the perfect, variegated snapshot of the season that colours much of The 502s’ discography, “It’s chaotic, it’s sweet, it’s fleeting - and it’s everything we love about summer”.

The rip-roaring instrumental mirrors the exhilaratingly hectic narrative, with Isola's playful vocals nimbly striking a balance between yacht rock and contemporary folk. Endearingly billing themselves as “the happiest band on earth”, the 502s are a welcome breath of fresh, sun-lotion-scented air in a modern musical landscape that too often champions solemnity and gravity over joy and joviality.

Although this marks The 502s’ debut release with a major label, the uplifting band have amassed a loyal following over the course of their three studio albums so far, with jubilant earworms such as ‘Just a Little While’, ‘If Good Times Were Dollars’, ‘Magdalene’ and ‘Picture Perfect Portrait of Young Love’ cementing themselves as sing-a-long fan-favourites during the band's electrifying live shows.

For those who are yet to have had the good fortune of attending one of The 502s’ shows, the band - consisting of Isola, Joe Capati,, Sean Froelich, Nick Dallas and Graci Phillips - released their first full-length live album late last year. The 502s also showcased the effervescent energy that fizzles throughout their performances of ‘Summer Fling’ and ’Just a Little While’ on Good Morning America earlier in May.

“We couldn’t be more excited to officially join the Big Loud family”, the band emphasises to Holler, before joking that the bond was formed with the help of two key ingredients - chicken and beer, “From the start, it just felt right. After our first show with Big Loud folks in the crowd, we ended up grabbing late-night chicken tenders and beers - and by the end of the night, it felt like we’d known them forever”.

We can't wait to see what's next for the 502s following this stellar debut single with Big Loud, and we'll be keeping our fingers crossed that we have a summer album to look forward to.

‘Summer Fling’ by The 502s is out now via Big Loud Records