Dumb Crush - What's Gotten Into People

What happens when three road-worn, wildly talented DIY musicians throw caution to the wind and start a band on a whim? You get Dumb Crush—a Toronto-based trio formed by Owen Hooper (Mouth Breather), Elliott Isaac (Cam Kahin/CJ Wiley) and Liam Colbert (Rise Carmine)—who somehow captured lightning in a bottle on their debut EP What’s Gotten Into People?, recorded entirely live off the floor in just two days at Dream House Studios.

This is not a polished, pristine studio project. It’s messy in the best way—raw, immediate, and defiant. “We wanted to track the record completely live without a metronome to challenge ourselves as a new band,” the trio shares. “No studio tricks. No second chances. Just us figuring it out in real time.” The result is a snapshot of a band being born and an honest, gut-punch reaction to modern life in Toronto—a city that's as thrilling as it is soul-sucking.

Written and recorded over the course of three chaotic months, the EP explores everything from escapist partying to doomscrolling-induced dread to that gnawing consumerist-fueled existentialism. “It’s a deep dive into what a headache it is to live in Toronto in the 2020s,” they say. “We wound up tapping into a really special energy of supporting each other and finding our footing artistically.” Singles like “Witches in the Dark” and “Get Away” have already made waves on SiriusXM The Verge, CBC Radio, and even Hockey Night in Canada, while “Annihilation” turned spring tour dates across Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes into sweat-soaked, cathartic mosh pits. “Get Away” also got a stunning visual treatment from Jack Harrison, known for his work with J. Cole, BADBADNOTGOOD, A24 Films, and more.

As they roll into summer 2025 with festival slots at Do West Fest, R4A, and London Punk Rock Flea Market (sharing stages with Fucked Up, Single Mothers, and Art D’ecco), Dumb Crush is quickly becoming one of Canada’s worst-kept secrets—and for good reason. In a world full of noise and confusion, Dumb Crush offers clarity—not by answering life’s big questions, but by shouting right back at them.