Babes in Canyon hit the gas at the end of the world on “Look Outside,” a feverish indie pop joyride about holding tight to love and finding joy in the face of disaster. Speaking with Atwood Magazine, the duo open up about community, survival, and the exhilarating freedom of going your own way – from the real-life experiences behind the song to its dizzying music video, where rebellion is half the fun.
Stream: “Look Outside” – Babes In Canyon
Everything’s on fire, people are starting to notice that we’re all in the same predicament, and coming together over music continues to help people find connection and healing.
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The levee’s broken, the weather’s gone haywire, and the getaway van might not even start. Road trip, anyone?
Dreamy, feverish, and delightfully unhinged, Babes in Canyon’s “Look Outside” barrels headfirst into the chaos with glistening mandolin, propulsive percussion, and an irresistibly spirited indie pop sound that practically bursts through the speakers. There’s a defiant joy coursing through it all, an irrepressible urge to keep moving, keep laughing, and keep living even as the world threatens to fall apart.
It’s a wild, radiant celebration of being alive in a world coming apart – and the exhilarating freedom of facing the unknown with someone you love beside you.
Oh no
the levee just broke
house underwater
but you learn how to float
And lately
It’s all just grey
Fuzz on the tv
Slipping through
suede couch cushions
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering the music video for “Look Outside,” the deliriously inventive single from Seattle-based duo Babes in Canyon. Songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Nathan and Sophia Hamer are charging into an exciting new chapter, announcing their forthcoming EP Whispers & Echoes alongside a 31-stop national headlining tour for Spring 2027 – their biggest yet.
Born out of an impromptu writing session during a storm-induced blackout in the Pacific Northwest mountains, Babes in Canyon have spent the past several years carving out their own wonderfully unpredictable musical identity. Blending folk-rooted storytelling with electronic experimentation, the duo weave intricate vocal harmonies, acoustic instrumentation, and pulsing synths into larger-than-life arrangements that defy their two-person setup. Their ingenuity has long captured our attention: When Atwood Magazine named Babes in Canyon one of our 2025 Artists to Watch, staff writer Beau Hayhoe praised their ability to pack “a major indie-folk, synth-pop, raucous singalong-type punch” into such a small ensemble.
Their 2025 debut album, The New Loud, explored grief and loss through a richly layered fusion of alt-folk and electronic pop, establishing the foundation for an increasingly adventurous sound. Earlier this year, the duo embraced a brighter, more uninhibited direction with “Echo,” a soaring declaration of self-trust and creative liberation. As we wrote in our March premiere, the single “turns vulnerability into motion and instinct into an experience worth dancing through.” This spirit of experimentation has continued to flourish, with “Look Outside” pushing their playful musical imagination into even wilder territory.
For the accompanying video, Babes in Canyon reunite with longtime collaborator Greg Mares, embracing a mischievous, surrealist streak that gives the music an equally eccentric visual counterpart. The result is a riot of color and movement, overflowing with the sort of gleeful abandon that has become a hallmark of the band’s evolving artistry.
“‘Look Outside’ is our carefree, post-apocalyptic, road-trip anthem,” Babes in Canyon tell Atwood Magazine. “Exploring really percussive mandolin, charango, and piano melodies over an already driving beat, and then merging that with trippy, time-warped vocals was an exciting process in the studio. The video follows suit with copious amounts of fog, neon-lights, and lots of whip-pans from the camera to induce a dizzying effect and add to the off-kilter vibe.”
“Greg Mares helped make the whole process happen,” they continue. “From dangling his camera over a rickety twenty-foot ladder to enduring the massive swarms of bugs once we kicked the flood lights on, Greg is always game during our run-and-gun style music videos, and his keen creative eye is integral in bringing our vision to life.”
What gives “Look Outside” its addictive momentum is the precision beneath its apparent abandon.
Mandolin flourishes skitter across the mix, percussive charango strikes with dazzling richness, and glistening piano notes tumble around a relentless rhythmic pulse. Meanwhile, distorted vocal harmonies stretch, bend, and ricochet through the arrangement, adding a deliciously psychedelic edge to the song’s earthy instrumentation. Every musical layer seems to be racing toward the horizon, building an irresistible sense of forward motion that sends not just the chorus, but the whole song soaring. It’s a spectacular collision of pop textures and production wizardry, charged with the restless energy of a band having the absolute time of their lives.
The lyrics, meanwhile, paint a far more unsettling picture. Television static, flooded homes, and temperatures swinging from twenty below to 104 degrees evoke a society caught between environmental catastrophe and emotional exhaustion. The image of “Fuzz on the tv / Slipping through suede couch cushions” is especially evocative, capturing that familiar paralysis of watching disaster unfold from the comfort of home, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of bad news. And then comes the chorus, bursting through the haze with a deceptively simple command: “Hey everybody take a look outside.” It’s both a wake-up call and an invitation, urging us to confront what’s happening beyond our front doors while remembering there’s still a whole world out there worth experiencing.
Trying to keep my head held high
When I’m lost at night
With a flame for a light
I’m different
But I’ve been this way before I swear
Hey everybody take a look outside
Hey everybody take a look outside
Look outside, look outside
Hey everybody take a look outside
Hey everybody take a look outside
The song’s apocalyptic imagery carries an uncomfortable authenticity for Nathan and Sophia Hamer, whose travels have brought them face-to-face with the increasingly unpredictable realities of life on the road. Their experiences lend an urgency to the music’s escapist fantasy, grounding its absurdist humor in the lives of people navigating extraordinary circumstances.
“A road trip through the apocalypse is essentially what it’s like to be a band on tour right now. Traveling around the country has meant routing around wildfires, flooding, landslides, and various types of disasters happening everywhere. It’s also meant being able to connect with people who’ve lived through these hardships, and see how many of their struggles go unnoticed in a landscape where natural and human-made disasters have become par for the course. The common thread has been that people find solace through loved ones, community support, and music. Everything’s on fire, people are starting to notice that we’re all in the same predicament, and coming together over music continues to help people find connection and healing.”
Amid all this turmoil, one lyric offers a particularly poignant glimpse into the song’s emotional center: “And the end is nigh, but my eye’s on you.” It’s a beautiful little declaration, slipping past the mayhem to reveal the devotion underneath. Where the verses survey a planet in distress, these words narrow the frame to a single person, suggesting that even the most terrifying circumstances become bearable when faced together. There’s an almost reckless romance to that sentiment, and Babes in Canyon embrace it wholeheartedly, finding immense comfort in the relationships that sustain us through life’s most uncertain moments.
“When things feel especially f**ked, it’s nice to have someone by your side. At the end of the day, all we really have is our individual connections, the love that we share, and our ability to take care of one another.”
The music video takes that rebellious spirit in an especially theatrical direction.
Working with Greg Mares, the Hamers abandon the open road for a shadowy, neon-soaked school assembly, transforming the familiar rituals of classroom discipline into a delightfully anarchic playground. Spotlights pierce the darkness, academic props scatter through thick clouds of fog, and the musicians inhabit an assortment of unruly student personas. Frenetic camera movements heighten the disorientation, creating an atmosphere that is equal parts fever dream and mischievous midnight performance. The imagery is bizarre, fantastical, and thoroughly entertaining, matching the recording’s heightened intensity while introducing a whole different set of ideas.
The inspiration comes from the song’s cheeky declaration, “And f*** doubt, school of thought I dropped out.” What begins as an irreverent dismissal of conventional thinking becomes the video’s central conceit, with the classroom serving as a stage for challenging expectations and asserting individuality. The characters’ antics carry a deeper significance: By deliberately inviting attention, they reclaim the power to define themselves in a setting designed to enforce conformity.
“The two of us created multiple characters embodying different types of rebellious students, and were inspired by the idea of acting out during class, drawing the spotlight to yourself for going against the grain, or voicing what no one else will say out loud. We ended up with lots of fog, neon, apples, and academic props flying around in the dark.”
There’s an infectious sense of mischief to the whole production, amplified by its DIY ingenuity and the Hamers’ willingness to throw themselves completely into the absurdity. The costumes, exaggerated gestures, and visual trickery give the film an exuberant personality all its own. Beneath the antics, however, lies a compelling argument for personal agency: The freedom to question authority, embrace your individuality, and choose your own path even when the world insists you follow its rules. Music and imagery arrive at the same liberating conclusion through entirely different means, making the video an essential companion to the recording.
“Hopefully the video conveys a defiant declaration of autonomy, fun as rebellion, and a sense that if you find yourself distracted or swept up in a crowd, you can reverse that and have ownership of your life.”
Get up and go
It’s 20 below
Just last week was a hundred and four
So we stole a van, hoping it ran
Laughing in the back seat you and a friend
I’m slipping
driving through a world all blue
And the end is nigh
But my eye’s on you
I’m different
But I’ve been this way before
Beyond its catchy hooks and captivating visuals, “Look Outside” succeeds because its optimism has genuine stakes.
Babes in Canyon acknowledge the fear, frustration, and helplessness that accompany modern life, then offer a way through those emotions that feels beautifully attainable. Their music recognizes the absurdity of carrying on as usual while everything around us grows increasingly precarious, and responds with an outpouring of affection and an invitation to participate in the world around us. There’s tremendous power in that perspective, particularly at a time when retreating into ourselves can seem like the easiest response to an overwhelming reality.
It’s also a compelling example of what makes Babes in Canyon such an exciting artistic force. Nathan and Sophia Hamer possess an uncommon knack for marrying organic musicianship with adventurous production, crafting richly detailed arrangements that retain the intimacy and personality of two people making music together. Their songs are ambitious without losing their sense of humor, emotionally resonant without sacrificing the pleasure of a great beat. As they prepare to share Whispers & Echoes and embark on their Spring 2027 tour, their ever-growing confidence suggests a duo eager to push their artistry further, follow their curiosities, and see just how far their collective imagination can carry them.
And f*** doubt
School of thought I dropped out
Dropped my keys I’m locked out
Walk it like I talk now
And f*** that
every word I say back
ain’t right
Hey everybody take a look outside
Hey everybody take a look outside
Hey everybody take a look outside
Hey everybody
“Look Outside” is a fantastic reminder that even the most daunting circumstances leave room for laughter, wonder, and a little well-earned rebellion.
Its exuberance is contagious, but its greatest strength lies in the affection coursing beneath all the commotion. The future may be uncertain, the weather may be disastrous, and the road ahead may be full of surprises. We might as well make the most of the ride.
Watch the music video for “Look Outside” exclusively on Atwood Magazine, and dive into our conversation with Babes in Canyon below as Nathan and Sophia Hamer open up about the realities of touring through a changing world, their increasingly experimental creative process, and the beautifully unruly spirit behind this spectacular release.
The van’s waiting. Grab someone you love, roll down the windows, and take a look outside.
Hey everybody take a look outside
Hey everybody take a look outside
Look outside, look outside
Hey everybody take a look outside
Hey everybody take a look outside
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:: stream/purchase Look Outside here ::
:: connect with Babes in Canyon here ::
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Stream: “Look Outside” – Babes In Canyon
A CONVERSATION WITH BABES IN CANYON
Atwood Magazine: Nathan and Sophia, hello and welcome back to Atwood Magazine! Since we last caught up for “Echo,” how have you been, and what are you most excited about the music you're making today?
Babes In Canyon: We’ve been working nonstop on new music and tours that we’re really excited about! We’ve toured extensively throughout the year, bringing a handful of new songs to folks around the country. We’re now back in the studio wrapping up our new record Whispers & Echoes. These new songs are a slight departure from our more folk-driven work; we’ve felt a calling to explore a more energized edge to our music after living with the more heavy, emotionally-charged songs on our debut album.
“Look Outside” moves through images of flooding, extreme weather, and a world that seems to be coming apart. What's the story behind this song?
Babes In Canyon: A road trip through the apocalypse is essentially what it’s like to be a band on tour right now. Traveling around the country has meant routing around wildfires, flooding, landslides, and various types of disasters happening everywhere. It’s also meant being able to connect with people who’ve lived through these hardships, and see how many of their struggles go unnoticed in a landscape where natural and human-made disasters have become par for the course. The common thread has been that people find solace through loved ones, community support, and music. Everything’s on fire, people are starting to notice that we’re all in the same predicament, and coming together over music continues to help people find connection and healing.
“Look Outside” feels almost like an end-of-the-world road trip anthem. Was that contrast between impending disaster and carefree adventure intentional?
Babes In Canyon: We like playing within the space of two polarizing forces. We’re so entrenched nowadays in everything happening around the world at every given minute, I think many folks feel the oddity of moving through life like normal while being aware of what feels like a constant onslaught of impending doom. Sometimes your brain goes numb and you’re slipping through couch cushions, other times you’re driving through fields of smoke with your best friend and a slushy in your hand.
The chorus repeats the simple invitation, “Hey everybody take a look outside.” What does that refrain mean to you?
Babes In Canyon: It’s open to interpretation; more so meaning that it carries the weight of many things at once. From a more pessimistic perspective, it could be a wakeup to look around you at the terrible things happening daily if you’ve become complacent. From a more positive perspective, it could mean to look up from the doomscroll and engage with the beauty of the world that continues to persevere.
I’m especially drawn to the lyric, “And the end is nigh / But my eye's on you.” What do those lines evoke for you now?
Babes In Canyon: When things feel especially f**ked, it’s nice to have someone by your side. At the end of the day, all we really have is our individual connections, the love that we share, and our ability to take care of one another.
Musically, what were your sonic goals for “Look Outside,” and how did you approach bringing this song to life?
Babes In Canyon: Once we had the main groove down, we really wanted to mess around with distorted background vocals and ad libs to give the song a constant off-kilter vibe. We spent a lot of time playing with pitching and vocal speeds, something we had just started to explore with “Echo.” We also used instrumentation in a very percussive manner: 16th notes on the mandolin, reinforcing the downbeats with percussive charango, and lots of eerie triplets on the piano.
We're excited to be premiering the music video for “Look Outside”! How did you come up with the concept for this video, and what do you hope it adds to the song?
Babes In Canyon: We partnered with our friend and long-time cinematographer/producer Greg Mares, who brought a vibrant vision and an array of vibey lighting gear that allowed us to go wild. The concept was inspired by the line in the song “And f*** doubt, school of thought I dropped out,” and we wanted to play with light and shadows, using the idea of being isolated by a spotlight in a school assembly.
The two of us created multiple characters embodying different types of rebellious students, and were inspired by the idea of acting out during class, drawing the spotlight to yourself for going against the grain, or voicing what no one else will say out loud. We ended up with lots of fog, neon, apples, and academic props flying around in the dark.
Hopefully the video conveys a defiant declaration of autonomy, fun as rebellion, and a sense that if you find yourself distracted or swept up in a crowd, you can reverse that and have ownership of your life.
What's the funniest or most unexpected thing that happened while filming the “Look Outside” music video?
Babes In Canyon: We vastly underestimated the amount of mosquitoes and bugs that would be attracted to the flood lights. Bugs so big you can see their shadow on camera. Trying to keep singing through a chorus after swallowing a moth is a tough act.
You're also announcing a new EP and tour! What can you share about this next chapter, and how does “Look Outside” fit into the larger picture?
Babes In Canyon: We’re thrilled to announce the Whispers & Echoes national tour and EP. This is our largest headline tour yet, with 31 stops across the continental US. Look Outside is one of the singles off the new record, and we’re beyond excited to take these new songs on the road.
What do you hope listeners take away from “Look Outside,” and what have you taken away from creating this song and now putting it out into the world?
Babes In Canyon: This song helped us articulate the feeling of clinging tight to what matters as things collapse around you. We hope people can find their own connection to it, and extrapolate whichever meaning makes them feel empowered. At the very least, we hope we provided the perfect soundtrack to driving through the end of the world with someone you love, and going your own way.
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:: stream/purchase Look Outside here ::
:: connect with Babes in Canyon here ::
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Stream: “Look Outside” – Babes In Canyon
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