Denver-based power pop/garage rock duo The Mañanas are back with a new single, Love Letter to My Honey. Reprising the core lineup of singer/guitarist Brandon Unpingco and producer Danny Pauta, the band’s latest offering builds upon the upbeat garage roots of their full-length 2023 release 3000 and ventures further into classic surf soundscapes than ever before.
Right off the bat, the track establishes itself as a quintessential garage/surf tune that would have been right at home on 1972’s Nuggets: Original Artyfacts psychedelic compilation. Clean and catchy from the opening riff, Love Letter to My Honey gets you moving and keeps you there with unmistakable pop sensibilities.
But don’t mistake this release for standard fare, because Love Letter to My Honey continues the band’s forging of its own unique songwriting territory. The tracking on the guitars is particularly nuanced and effective, creating a swirling, jangly wash that feels at once polished and uncontrolled. Unpingco’s vocals showcase a refined intuition for memorable syncopations, but gone are the lusher vocal harmonies characteristic of their previous work. Instead, the lyrics sit bare atop the instrumentation, giving the track’s longing narrative an unexpected intimacy, reminiscent of Nana Grizol.
Still, the band maintains the energetic roots and infectious melodies they’ve long been known for. Sunshine serves as both metaphor and sonic signature here—the track brims with raw energy, and the hook clings to you long after the song is over.
You can find The Mañanas on Instagram, or catch them live as they return to Denver’s Outside Days Festival on May 31.
Listen to Love Letter to My Honey below:
Written by John Bagatta
