As the new year unfolds, West Chester’s own Flavor Wave deliver a high-energy anthem for anyone looking to shake off stagnation and embrace change. With their latest single ‘Motivation’, the alt-rock five-piece fuses tight grooves, punchy vocals, and a fiery instrumental arrangement.
From the jump, the song’s infectious funk-laced guitar riff grabs hold, setting the stage for a dynamic vocal interplay between Josh Speaker and Kyle Loedel. Their verses bounce off each other with a conversational urgency, capturing the push-and-pull between self-doubt and self-determination. The message is clear, that while external support can inspire, true motivation must come from within.
For Speaker, ‘Motivation’ emerged from a period of creative struggle, a time when uncertainty and complacency threatened to take hold. The track became an outlet. “It was the first time I wrote something beyond romance or heartache,” he explains. “It became a reflection of how we navigate change and take control of our own direction.” That sentiment is echoed by rhythm guitarist Patrick Blair, who describes the song as a reminder that transformation, though daunting, is always worth the effort.
Instrumentally, the band lean into their signature blend of alternative rock and funk, with Noah Montgomery’s rolling basslines keeping the pulse alive, while Matthew Stretch’s lead guitar work adds a sharp, infectious bite. The moment the opening riff kicks in, the track exudes an undeniable momentum, a fitting sonic representation of the theme at its core. Stretch recalls the process of refining that initial hook, explaining how an envelope filter was the missing ingredient that finally gave the studio recording the depth and fullness it deserved.
A band built on years of friendship and collaboration, Flavor Wave have spent time sharpening their craft, refining their sound, and establishing themselves as a force within the alt-rock scene. If this latest single is any indication, they’re only just getting started.
