Burgeoning indie-pop star Dayglow brings ‘positive energy’ to Ft. Lauderdale tour stop

Piano riffs, tin drums and groovy melodies are some of the basis for the infectious music of the indie-pop singer Sloan Struble. Also known as Dayglow, he released his third album, “People in Motion,” in October, and in November, he pulled into South Florida much to the delight of his fans.

Struble, who writes, records and produces all of his music in his home studio in Austin, Texas, hit the road in support of “People in Motion” earlier this year in intimate venues befit of indie-pop. The North American tour began in Arizona in October, and on Nov. 28, Struble and his tour band brought his 1980s sound and contagious energy to the Revolution Live in Ft. Lauderdale.

Struble, 23, released his first album “Fuzzybrain” in 2018 right before he began his freshman year of college. The debut album “Can I Call You Tonight?” is home to his most streamed song on Spotify, with 425 million streams. The 10-track album kicked off his musical career, and Struble’s audience began to grow in the following months after the album’s release. Passer-by listeners became some of his first fans and began to follow his career from then on.

In 2021, Struble released his second album “Harmony House,” as his artistic streak carried on through this release. He continued to hone his craft, maturing through the music, incorporating faster tempos and disco-like beats along the way. Similar to his first release, Struble showcased his ability to create his own music by himself.

“Close To You” is the fifth track in his second album and incorporates a very distinct sound. The song instantly transports its listeners to the 1980s. The catchy chorus is accompanied with layers of drums, cowbells and the use of synthesizer.

With a burgeoning library of track, Struble continued his musical success with “People in Motion” this year. The release stands out among his discography with its upbeat and dance-like feel. The album included fan-favorite tracks such as “Then It All Goes Away” and “Deep End.”

“Making this song (and this whole record) was a new and freeing experience for me,” Sloan said in a press release from his publicity representative, GrandStand. “I didn’t give myself any ‘creative limitations,’ and really didn’t try to have many outside references for it. I just wanted to make a raw and honest, yet very polished and danc-y record. I’m still making all of these songs by myself in a spare bedroom in my house, yet something about this album just feels bigger than me and so expansive in a creative sense. Deep End is a great example of that feeling to me.”

Fans watching Dayglow perform. (Photo by Janetssy Lugo/SFMN)

Long-time fans have seen his progression as an artist from album to album. From his lyrics to his sound, listeners have noticed his musical growth.

“I think his music now is more ‘pop-y’ if that makes sense,” said Tiffany Devincent, a fan since 2018. “Like, before it was more chill. Now, it’s more modern and pop which isn’t a bad thing it’s just more mainstream.”

Having written all of the lyrics on his own, Struble invites listeners into his romantic life with a few tracks. The song “Like She Does” encapsulates the warm feeling of love within its words. Struble sings “Of all of the life that I have, I wanna be with you. I feel it like pouring rain. There’s nothing else that I’d rather be than in love with you every day.”

Similarly, the song “Like She Does” focuses on love. Struble sings about having his special someone and realizing “Nobody comes close to getting me like she does.” Although these songs are written about Struble’s relationship, the singer has created songs that envelop universal feelings.

And that was ever present in Ft. Lauderdale. The Revolution Live show, in fact, marked Struble’s last stop before finishing off the tour with two dates in his home state of Texas. The venue opened its doors and allowed listeners to escape into the “People In Motion” world.

From teenagers accompanied with their parents, to middle-aged couples, to young adults, fans lined up outside the general admission venue. Old and new fans alike came out to enjoy a night filled with indie music.

“I heard a few songs,” said Elizabeth Wills, a fan waiting to enter the venue. “I know a few of the main popular ones. It just shows up on my Spotify playlist.”

Once the doors opened, anticipation filled the small space. The opening act, Ritt Momney and his band, began the night with their alternative sound. The crowd swayed from side to side as Momney performed. Once the band began to play the first few notes to “Put Your Records On,” the crowd was ready to sing along to the cover.

“Yeah, just good energy,” Devincent said. “Everyone’s here to have a good time, just positive energy all around.”

Once Struble took the stage, the crowd exuded excitement. Phones were taken out of back pockets and the crowd seemed to lean in a little closer to the stage. Despite the small size of the stage, Struble and his band put on a show for the crowd.

They opened the set with the first track on the album titled “Radio” and had the room moving. For some songs, people danced for others they clapped, but for the whole night, the crowd welcomed each track with excitement.

The crowd got to immerse themselves in Struble’s music. Fans’ go-to songs for late-night car rides and relaxing days at home flowed through the speakers as they experienced a memorable night, one that Dayglow seems destined to repeat again in South Florida.

Janetssy Lugo is a student at Florida International University majoring in digital journalism. She loves reading, baking and listening to Bad Bunny. Working at a radio station is one of her goals as well as traveling the world.