South Carolina rockers Hundredth are back with a new single called "Whatever" that's decidedly deliberate in its execution, despite the song's breezy groove and outwardly offhand title, as Stereogum premiered Wednesday (May 22). The tune is all the more shocking considering the band's start in metal and hardcore, a footing that led to 2017's album RARE, the group's rebirth as surfside shoegazers.

It's the first new material from Hundredth since RARE was remixed and released as the electro-pop EP Ultrarare last year, which followed a set of B-sides culled from the album. Hear "Whatever" down toward the bottom of this post.

Hundredth vocalist Chadwick Johnson—who currently resides in Los Angeles, opposite his East Coast bandmates Alex Blackwell (guitar) and Andrew Minervini (bass)—exclusively told Loudwire about the tune's beginnings.

"Alex came to L.A. for a couple weeks so we could work on some new Hundredth and really see where we wanted to go," the musician said. "We wrote a couple songs and then randomly, one day, this one popped out. It immediately felt like something new for us, and we really felt like it opened up a new lane for Hundredth."

Lyrically, the song was born from a darker place than its carefree putter may suggest. The singer described the gravely relatable mental health crisis that sparked the cut's message of finding meaning on one's own terms.

"One day I woke up with this heavy weight," Johnson recalled. "Life felt like it was too much. This feeling that was like, 'I don't really wanna be here if I have to do it this certain way.' I had a fleeting thought of suicide, which I think all of us deal with, whether we want to admit it or not. And at that moment, I was like, 'This is what the song needs to be about. It just needs to be an honest song. That's the only way to impact both myself and the listener.' Sounds really simple, but at the time it was a breakthrough for me."

"Whatever" hits streaming services May 24. Get it here.

Mental health struggles affect everyone. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free and confidential help and can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.

Hundredth, "Whatever"

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