What Makes “The Dawn” By Lloyd's Money Stand Out Is It’s Not Trying To

Forget the demo-like, DIY edge because Lloyd’s Money has officially stepped out of the basement to make a statement after wrestling with their sound. And what you’ll get isn’t just pop, or surf, or rock, but all three in their six-part EP, The Dawn.

Hailing from the shores of Halifax, Lloyd’s Money delivers their professional debut with the help of local producers who have made albums they love. The band have finally found the middle ground in pop punk and laid back surf rock that’s carefree, youthful, and vibrant all at once.

Your Steps II is a rework of the band’s first single. Right from the first riff, it’s already screaming failed romance disguised in pop punkish layers. After the intro, the track cuts through with their live wire energy, unveiling the dangly, crunchy guitars and its carefree rhythm. Despite its liveliness, there’s a restless edge from the vocals which keeps the momentum forward and lived in.

Radio comes in with its fast and loud energy, trying to drown out the skittering pressure of staying young and cool and carefree as a musician hitting 25. It’s like the band is collectively saying, “the eyes that used to look at me are now looking at someone else so I’ll just play something out loud to hide this burnout”. It’s short, upbeat, like the exact song you’d play blast at your old bluetooth speaker for a cathartic release.

I didn’t know a bunch of dudes in the scene could come up with something so respectfully romantic but here’s their lead single that sticks and slaps. Seahorse girl will make you want to get lost in the pit while pressed close with a stranger you’ve been seeing for weeks. It’s pure surf rock. No ego, no pride, just a straight up love for women who makes live shows alive and thriving.

If you could summarize situationships in one track, it’s going to be Flowers. It’s messy, bittersweet, and tangled all at once. Not even the jangly guitars and punchy percussion hits could cover up the frustration of standing in the middle of something and nothing at all.

Jo’s Interlude and The Dawn is a shift from their usual sound. Despite it being a classic break up ballad, their songwriting and evocative arrangement sets the track apart. The way it’s not even evident that this is a new sound to the band shows their versatility, ending the EP on a strong note.

What makes Lloyd’s Money stand out is they’re not trying to be. Instead, you’ll get personality and intentional lyricism that makes something mere and trivial so interesting. It’s the type of curation that hits not because it’s hyped, loud, or complex, but because it’s genuinely great. It’s like the work of a band who have incorporated everything they’ve ever learned and loved into a collection that feels familiar yet new. And honestly? It works. No overthinking, no hesitations, just pure instinct as a hook.