Riding on the wave of the newfound resolutions and optimism that come with a new year, Neon Dreams return with their new single, “High School Dropout.”
An upbeat rhythm and clean synth are the base components of this immediate dance anthem. The message and the melody pair perfectly together. It’s the type of song you’ll want to shout in the club with your friends, whether you excelled in school or not. The band’s typical disregard for genre is ever-present. Pop, hip hop, and EDM are only a few of the musical influences that can be gleaned from this song, and it all seamlessly melds together.
The song draws inspiration from frontman Frank Kadillac’s struggles with traditional learning and academics. It’s a direct consequence of Kadillac accepting his own talents and realizing the other paths life had to offer him. The beginnings of Kadillac’s inspiration to write this song can be traced back to an Instagram post he made last spring.
“I couldn’t learn the way everybody else did,” he wrote. “So I taught myself the things I wanted to know and put myself around people that lived the life I wanted. My teacher was observation and my best friend was my gut feeling.”
Kadillac is using this song to reach out to anyone who might have felt that way and let them know that despite his own turmoil, he’s “out here living his best life.” It’s an anthem of self-acceptance, and it boasts being proud of your achievements, no matter what they may be.
And the video shows it. Kadillac dances his way through life, seemingly without care — trying on different outfits, getting tattooed. The video mostly features Kadillac, but only because the content of the song is so close to his heart. It’s proof that he’s comfortable in his skin. With this song, Neon Dreams is encouraging everyone else to strive for the same, giving us a strong message to start the year with.