Surprise Wish is the sophomore album from Burlington, Vermont indie-rock project Dari Bay and the band’s first release for Double Double Whammy. Following the cult-favorite debut Longest Day of the Year (2023), songwriter Zack James sharpens the project’s sound into something more immediate and visceral: scuzzy guitars, hypnotic rhythms, and conversational vocals that feel both intimate and unguarded.Raised in Brattleboro, Vermont in a musical family, James has spent years immersed in the region’s DIY scene – playing with artists like Lily Seabird and Greg Freeman, writing in the band Robber Robber, and touring as a member of Unknown Mortal Orchestra. With Surprise Wish, he distills that experience into his most focused songwriting yet.Written largely alone over the course of a year while James finished college and balanced multiple projects, the album embraces a raw, homespun approach. Rather than chasing genre aesthetics, James leaned into instinct