Dan E.T. and Passafire Premiere Their Upbeat Single “High Tide”

From being a trumpeter to being a producer to being a frontman, Dan E.T. can check just about every box. Today marks the premiere of his new pop rock-inspired single “High Tide.” Dan E.T. is the name that singer and songwriter Danny Torgersen goes by in releasing his solo work. He has become highly regarded for his various contributions to the Phoenix, Arizona music scene. Over the course of his career, he has played trumpet for Cardi B., Weezer, Gondwana, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, Badfish, and more.

But thanks to his versatility, Torgersen can fulfill any role. He is also well known as the frontman of the “space-jazz” group Captain Squeegee. The psych-indie band formed in the early 2000s in Mesa, Arizona and had an impressive run, blending progressive rock and jazz and playing Warped Tour and South by Southwest.

Although Dan E.T. is primarily a solo departure for Torgersen, he works closely with drummer Gerhardt Koelsch and bassist Corey Groove. They debuted their reggae-inspired sound with their first single, “RoundTrip,” in spring 2023. Now they return with the revved-up “High Tide,” an embodiment of Dan E.T.’s ability to mix up styles and musical time periods.

Coinciding with our debut of “High Tide,” Torgersen, Koelsch, and Groove join us to break down the song, its style, how it came about, collaborating with reggae rock band Passafire, and more.

What was it like collaborating with Passafire on “High Tide,” and what vibe did they bring to the track?

Danny Torgersen: “Been a fan of Passafire for many many years, so to finally collaborate together was a musical dream. Ted Bowne (Passafire frontman) and I have shared many late-night conversations about the state of the world… So it was no surprise he read right between the lyrical lines and matched the songs better than we could have imagined. Really he enhanced the message…”

Gerhardt Koelsch: “Passafire has always been a band that transports me to their realm when I listen to their catalogue and I feel like collaborating with them has allowed us to tap into that energy and really create a song that transports the listener into the high tide of life.”

Corey Groove: “Passafire has always been a major musical influence in my life, especially back in the ‘Start from Scratch’ days. During a pivotal time when I was rebuilding my life, the lyrics of that song helped me find the direction and motivation I needed to turn things around. (Lead singer) Ted (Browne) brought that same energy and poetic lyricism to this track, making it a true full-circle moment for me to work with one of my favourite artists who has had such a lasting impact on my journey.”

Dan E.T. x Passafire “High Tide” single artwork

Can you tell us about the story or inspiration behind “High Tide?” What do you hope fans take away from it?

Torgersen: “What started as an old riff from the Corey stash finally met its final form with us and Passafire. At that time we were still deep in the COVID lockdowns… seeing everyone everywhere bicker about what was true, or best… watching togetherness turning to tension… ‘drowning’ in the tide of noise and division, wanting to simply be free of it all. Ironically dropping this during an election cycle, those themes of media overload and propaganda paralysis still ring so relevantly.”

Koelsch: “I hope fans can resonate with the song’s strong sense of individualism. It’s always been our propagative as a band to think for ourselves and question authority. Stand up for yourself, you deserve love too!”

Groove: “‘High Tide’ came to life from a rough iPhone recording of some demos I’d made over a decade ago. During the COVID lockdown, I played it for Gerhardt and Dan, and they connected with the groove. From there, we developed it into the final version you hear today. Lyrically, it’s about taking a stand, blocking out the noise, and staying true to yourself. I wanted to inspire others to mentally and spiritually break free from the everyday confines of society, to carve their own path and embrace their own sense of freedom.”

How does “High Tide” connect to the rest of your music, and what does it reveal about where you’re headed next creatively?

Torgersen: “This drop definitely reveals our prog-rock underbelly… Me and Gerhardt have long roots in math-rock and ‘proggy’ bands, it’s fun to sneak that into our groove/reggae sound. In a way, Passafire pioneered that sound, along with RX Bandits and others… Expect more of this from the ET ethos!”

Koelsch: “I feel like Hightide breaks the genre-blending writing style of our previous two singles and delivers a full frontal banger that will be appreciated by fans of alt rock, reggae rock, and punk rock.”

How do you see “High Tide” fitting into the current reggae rock scene? Are there elements you think will surprise your fans?

Torgersen: “I think the reggae fans are gonna flip over this Passafire verse. Ted really nailed it and they have been a pillar of this scene from the beginning.”

Koelsch: “I personally believe reggae rock is evolving and becoming something even most fans of the genre can’t pinpoint or define. This song has so many elements that I think will become somewhat desirable in the genre for years to come.”

Groove: “‘High Tide’ is an upbeat rock-reggae-alt fusion track that brings together high-energy rhythms with influences from multiple genres. While it’s rooted in reggae, we layered in elements of rock, alternative, and even touches of jazz and dub to give it a fresh, dynamic sound.”

How did you approach blending your reggae rock style with Passafire’s sound on “High Tide?” Was there a moment in the studio that defined the track?

Torgersen: “Yes, that ripping guitar solo, which was a last-minute Passafire contribution, just really ramped up the intensity of the song. It captured that desperation of the lyrics… that cry for freedom. It’s like his guitar is screaming, gasping for air over the madness of modernity.”

Koelsch: “Being that this song has been in the works for over a year now (maybe two?) I’d say it’s hard to pinpoint an exact moment. But when we met with the guys from Passafire at Spring Badfish I knew we were going to cook up something special. To try and describe how perfectly the band wrote their additions to the song would be a waste of time because what they wrote and added felt like it had been there all along.”

Groove: “Blending our reggae alt-rock with Passafire’s unique sound on ‘High Tide’ felt like a natural fit. We share a lot of the same roots, so it was about finding that balance where each of our styles could really shine. Working with Ted brought this depth and energy that took the track to another level. The moment I heard Ted’s vocals I was blown away Passafires’ contributions on vocals and guitar couldn’t be more perfect.”