Oreaganomics Unleash “Wasting Summer Online” and Connect With Us to Reveal the Story Behind the Sound
- STAFF
- Jul 10
- 6 min read
By: Staff
Hauntingly original and emotionally charged, “Wasting Summer Online” is a slow-burning modern masterpiece
Oreaganomics Just Dropped “Wasting Summer Online” and We Had Questions
There’s a reason Oreaganomics chose “Wasting Summer Online” as their latest release. The track pulses with intention, but it doesn’t scream for attention. Instead, it drifts in slowly and leaves a mark that lingers long after the final note. It’s a song that feels deceptively simple on the surface, yet something much deeper is at play beneath the haze of echo-laced tones and minimalist lyrics.
This isn’t your typical summertime anthem. It questions, it observes, and it glows with a kind of quiet defiance that’s rare to come by. The artists behind it? Let’s just say they don’t arrive in the traditional sense. They emerge, and once they do, you’re compelled to lean in closer.
We caught up with Oreaganomics to talk about the inspiration behind the track, how they capture moments that feel more like memories than melodies, and why now more than ever they want listeners to unplug and pay attention.
Keep reading to step into their world.
Begin Interview:
Hello Oreaganomics, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. Can you introduce each member of Oreaganomics by name and performance role? And for fans just discovering you through this single, what’s one unexpected fact about each of you that might surprise them?
A. There are 3 core members. Only I, Mike, am ok with getting out here and talking about our music. Those are unexpected facts, right?
Q. What’s the origin story behind the band name “Oreaganomics”? How did it come about, and does it carry a deeper meaning for you?
A. Oh we just combined oregano and Reaganomics. Like all things with us, this may have meaning, may not. To start the conversation, if Reagan would have kept the pronunciation of Ree-gan we likely would have to be known by something else.
Q. “Wasting Summer Online” explores the impact of spending too much time in digital spaces instead of engaging with the real world. What inspired you to write this track, and was there a particular moment that sparked the idea?
A. I wrote settle down by the ocean. From there, it became a whole thing about creating an abyss for yourself.
Q. Would you say your songwriting tends to be sparked more by joyful moments or melancholic reflections? What emotion usually leads the charge when you create?
A. I think we create music in an attempt to give joy to us and others. We do this as the alternative is waiting for death.
Q. We loved the opening lines: “Settle down / settle down / where the oceans found.” With such minimal lyrics, do you see those as the most impactful lines, or is there another part of the song you consider the emotional or lyrical “wow” moment for listeners?
A. Yeah, that was meant to hook people.
Q. The echo and reverb in the production almost feel hypnotic. It really drives the message home. Was this atmospheric sound something you envisioned from the start, or did it evolve naturally during production?
A. Yeah we were trying to combine neo soul and Radiohead.
Q. The sonic atmosphere felt like a dark night in the desert, quiet and expansive, maybe even around a campfire with friends. Would you say that’s close to the feeling you were trying to evoke, or were you channeling something else entirely?
A. Well you know, I love that interpretation and it's right along with any other interpretation. Our art is meant to be interpreted. This belief is why we keep low profiles and rarely do interviews cuz we don't like to get in the way or interrupt your thinking.
Q. This track was recorded in BandLab with a unique process that really stands out. Is that how you usually work, or do you have a different creative setup such as home sessions, studio time, or working with a producer? How do you typically finalize a song: self-mixed and mastered or with outside help?
A. Our production is in house and we use countless effects from many apps. We punch in a lot and use a lot people outside us three but they also don't want fame. I don't know how, but we're kinda a waterhole for outside artist. Maybe as we all understand there's no money to be made with music now days.
Q. Given the song’s theme of disconnecting, how would you describe your current relationship with social media? Are you full blackout, use it only as needed, or do you catch yourself doom-scrolling sometimes and this song became a kind of personal reckoning?
A. Oh, social media is all the medias ever in your hands at all hours. We are fighting that addiction along everyone else. We do believe life will suck less if you go out and live but balance that with discovering music on your phone.
Q. We heard that your recording sessions sometimes included spontaneous moments like spotting a bluejay or a killdeer. How do those real-world encounters shape your music, and are they a regular part of your creative process?
A. Yeah so we've been doing this 20 years and now if we hear something outside we like we will record it as we remember when that was hard to do.
Q. You’ve mentioned using unconventional recording techniques such as frequent punch-ins and heavy effects to build your sonic identity. Can you tell us more about how those choices came together and what they help you express that traditional methods don’t?
A. Always have done that but it's easier now than 20 years ago as the software is way better than in the early 2000s. I personally don't think punching in is unorthodox as I subscribe to the idea that every song for the last 60 years has editing to some degree. I think we're odd as we do what Daft Punk or Public Enemy did but at a cheaper level and advocate others do the same and stop there as, here comes the most important thing I'll say all day, if you spend more than a hundred on your song you won't profit and music will become a money hole that'll hurt you. 120k streams and a hundred downloads has made us less than $600.
Q. You’ve said, “Life will suck less if you go out and live.” We loved that. Was there a specific “aha” moment where that idea hit you and you made a change, or has that always been a part of your outlook?
A. We collectively believe you cannot wait around for something to happen, you have to make it happen or, at least, enjoy the ride.
Q. Is there a song from your early years as listeners to bands growing up that you’d love to cover, something that still speaks to who you are now as a band?
A. The most meaningful songs to me, I wouldn't cover as that's sacrilege to me. The songs that speak to me is like "I Can't Get Next To You" by the Temptations or "Perfect Day" By Lou Reed. I love beautiful songs that cover layered emotions. It's a good sauce.
Q. The message in this song is clear and impactful. Do you see yourselves continuing in this bold, reflective sonic lane, or do you plan to explore a wider variety of moods and genres in future releases?
A. Who knows. We stumble through so much of this.
Q. If we were building a summer playlist around “Wasting Summer Online,” what three other tracks absolutely need to be on it, and why? Would you say this song leans more toward a lighthearted “put your phone down” vibe or something deeper and more existential?
A. Oh man, giving me the wheel. We are all about YOLO right now so "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed, "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys and "Videotape" by Radiohead would serve as a good reminder to appreciate what you have and to expand on it.
Q. Finally, now that we’ve fallen into your world with this single, what can we expect next? Can you give us a sneak peek at the next release, maybe a working title or even just the emotional terrain it covers?
A. Yeah we got a lot coming out next year in a album. So far, it's an album about relationships as we Americans need to learn how to be more into love than trolling or violence in general.
Oreaganomics, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
