Social media transformed Surf Curse’s ‘Freaks’ into a case study of modern music virality. According to The Los Angeles Times, the 2020 pandemic lockdowns caused a narrative of viral success, controversy, and redemption for the band.
The Unexpected Rise of ‘Freaks’
Surf Curse’s ‘Freaks’ discovered new life on TikTok during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The song emerged organically on the platform unlike other tracks that typically gain renewed interest through movie or TV features. It became a soundtrack for self-deprecating memes and created a cultural moment.
‘Freaks’ reached #10 on the US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart in 2021. According to industry tracking data, the song earned 3× Platinum status and sold over 3 million units in the United States. So, the song found success years after its release.
Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Rattigan and Rubeck
Serious allegations against Nick Rattigan and Jacob Rubeck emerged alongside the band’s growing popularity. In August 2020, an anonymous Instagram account accused Rubeck of assault, but the accuser later retracted their statement due to a case of mistaken identity. Similarly, two allegations against Rattigan were posted and subsequently deleted.
Both Rattigan and Rubeck denied any wrongdoing. Following these events, their record label, Danger Collective Records, ended their association with the band. Rubeck addressed the allegations directly in August 2020: “There hasn’t been a moment in my life that even comes close to what was described in that post.”
‘Disco’ Phenomenon Follows
According to Billboard, Surf Curse’s viral success continued with ‘Disco.’ The song became a TikTok sensation through a viral dance trend. Couples moved in synchronization to the chorus, creating over 1.6 million videos. The track reached No. 2 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart. It also debuted at No. 91 on the Hot 100, driven by 5.4 million official U.S. streams in one tracking week. Kworb’s streaming analytics reveals ‘Disco’ also reached over 331 million Spotify streams.
As for now, Surf Curse has no upcoming events. You can keep up with them via their official webpage, though.
