Hot Girl Summer: Raspberry Protocol

Utah locals, Raspberry Protocol, was established in 2020 by members Kaylee (Kiwi) Gomske (lead vocalist) and Nik Brown (percussion) followed by Sean Salisbury (guitar), Kate Anderson (keys/backup vocals), and Jake Richards (bass). Along came the release of their debut album “Cuz I’m Sad” which received high marks from listeners across the Utah music scene. Since then, the band has really taken off with recent singles “Wakka” and “Wild Things” winning the hearts of Salt Lake City and neighboring areas. The catchy, indie-pop sound of Raspberry Protocol has definitely got me hooked so it’s no surprise they’re climbing the charts.

In likeness to artists like The Regrettes, girl in red, and Beach Bunny, they’ve definitely got their target audience figured out. They’re incredibly versatile in their music production, with previous qualities and tones of their music, especially in “Maybe Tomorrow,” being more garage style. The power of Kaylee’s vocals along with the grunge guitar styles has got me reeling for more. 

This new sound of their latest single has taken a turn into bubblegum indie-pop, and I’m not complaining.

A few weeks ago, the band released their newest single, “Hot Girl Summer” which has been a hit, and will only keep getting better. A definite song of the summer, this is a must listen. Being a gay pop anthem, it’s a prime time to plug in some headphones and jam along to celebrate your pride. The chorus alone is perfect for screaming alone in your car, with a crowd of your closest friends, or even your significant other. I know for a fact “A hot girl summer with you is all I wanna do” is going to be the theme of our summer.

Not only does this song feature the highs of fantasizing a new flame, there’s also undertones of fear in lyrics such as “I was raised to believe this is wrong to do…when you’re looking at me I know it’s not true” and “I’ve got a feeling I don’t understand” which are incredibly relatable, especially among the community it’s written for.

You can catch us listening to this song all summer, and if you would like to join us, you can listen here now!!

For more on Raspberry Protocol you can check out their website, Instagram, or Spotify.