Chokecherry Return with Breakup Anthem “Goldmine” and Summer Tour Dates
PHOTO CREDIT: JOEY MARTINEZ
SAN FRANCISCO’S DREAMY CHOKECHERRY RETURN WITH “GOLDMINE” — WATCH THE VIDEO
TOURING WITH WAVVES THIS SUMMER
San Francisco dream-pop duo chokecherry — featuring vocalist/guitarist Izzie Clark and vocalist/bassist E. Scarlett Levinson — are back with a shimmering new single, “Goldmine.”
Watch the Jack Boston-directed video for “Goldmine” [here].
Originally considered for the band’s Messy Star EP (released last fall), the track was set aside — a move that ultimately allowed it to fully evolve. The song took on new life when chokecherry returned to the studio with producer Zach Tuch this January.
“Goldmine” is a breakup anthem — but with a twist.
“It’s resolute in the idea that things will never be the same again, playing with modern riffs and brooding harmonies against the backdrop of our youthful inspirations,” says Levinson. “It’s a reflection on a time that no longer exists, and the brutal challenges we face when letting go of something we once cherished.”
The track drips with dreamlike, lovesick energy — a breathy, whimsical anthem that feels straight out of a Wes Anderson film, complete with gentle cymbal crashes and a chorus that swells like waves at sunset. Each instrument moves with both grace and intent, evoking a time capsule of the best of the ’90s and ’00s. The song was mixed by Chris Coady (DIIV, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Future Islands, Yung Lean).
“I drew on a recent heartbreak while writing my lyrics for ‘Goldmine,’” Clark shares. “The emotions felt fresh and raw — getting into the studio immediately helped me process that chaos. The upbeat guitar riff is like a glimmer of hope, bookending the heartache. The bridge — ‘If it’s too heavy, we can dumb it down’ — captures that desperate bargain of wanting to return to what’s familiar, even if it hurts.”
Levinson adds, “My hope is that listeners feel the nostalgia and know they’re not alone in their losses — it’s a shared sorrow. I often feel heartbreak for the past that no longer lives in my present. ‘Goldmine’ lets me slip into that rose-colored remembrance. The lyric ‘Goldmine, tastes just like a fire’ reflects how the most beautiful things can still burn you, while the chorus confesses that longing we all feel for imperfect times gone by.”
The Video: Director Jack Boston explains, “Every creative choice had intention — even if it feels abstract. It’s a breakup song, and breakups carry a spectrum of emotion. I also loved the idea that a breakup can leave a location feeling emotionally radioactive — like Chernobyl — with lingering residue in the air.”
The Inspiration: Beyond personal heartbreak, the band’s new music is shaped by the current state of the world. “This isn’t just heartbreak over someone,” says Levinson. “It’s heartbreak over the world itself — the loss of innocence and childhood. We’re watching our past, present, and future being stripped away. Sonically, we’re channeling influences from Beach House, Frou Frou, Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Dehd.”
Since their formation, chokecherry have been steadily turning heads. The San Francisco Gate praised their “blend of white-hot shoegaze,” calling it “the modern sound of the California sun vaporizing the San Francisco fog.” While Clark and Levinson didn’t work out romantically, their creative chemistry is undeniable — and stunning to experience.
Catch chokecherry on tour with Wavves. Remaining dates below:
CHOKECHERRY ON TOUR:
With Wavves + Beach Goons:
7/18 — Denton, TX — Rubber Gloves
7/19 — Austin, TX — Mohawk
7/21 — Albuquerque, NM — Sister
7/22 — Tucson, AZ — 191 Toole
7/23 — Phoenix, AZ — Crescent Ballroom
With Wavves, Niis + Initiate:
7/24 — San Diego, CA — The Observatory North Park
7/25 — Los Angeles, CA — The Fonda
PHOTO CREDIT: JOEY MARTINEZ