Emma Lawlor
A Decade of Influence and Reinvention
Over the past decade, DIIV has become one of the most compelling and continually evolving groups in modern alternative rock. The band emerged from New York with a sound rooted in atmospheric guitar work and emotional intensity, and carved out a space uniquely their own. One that blends dream-pop haze and post-punk urgency into something unmistakably DIIV.
Founded by Zachary Cole Smith, DIIV first captured global attention with their 2012 debut Oshin. The album quickly became a genre touchstone for its cascading guitars, hypnotic rhythms, and youthful melancholy. Their early recordings still resonate today, referenced by critics and emerging artists for their influence on the sonic direction of indie rock throughout the 2010s.
A Raw, Unfiltered DIIV Experience
This Friday, DIIV will unveil Boiled Alive. It is an immersive new concert film capturing the band’s raw, visceral live energy. The footage comes from three sold-out performances at Los Angeles’ Teragram Ballroom earlier this year. Directed by Jaxon Whittington, the film premieres December 5 at boiledalive.com. It will welcome fans worldwide into the dense, emotional world DIIV built around their acclaimed 2024 album Frog In Boiling Water. The film also includes “Return Of Youth” as the album closer and interludes. Alongside the film, DIIV will also release the companion Boiled Alive live album, produced by Chris Coady. The album will be released this Friday on all digital platforms and in physical formats on CD and cassette.
Director Jaxon Whittington stated “The band had already created such a beautiful and complex world surrounding the album which I found intriguing, making it easy to build upon. I don’t think this could have been made with any other group of people at any other time.”
What’s Yet to Come?
Today, DIIV stands as a rare example of a band that grows fearlessly with each project—sonically, lyrically, and visually. Their live performances have become an essential part of their identity, combining intensity, vulnerability, and immersive sound design. With a dedicated global fanbase and a reputation for artistry that deepens with each release, DIIV remain one of the most vital and evolving bands working in alternative music.
