Merry Cherry Bomb — the one-woman project of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Allie Gardner — is back to haunt the shoreline with her new single “Waves,” a ghostly, surf-punk hallucination from the upcoming album Merry Cherry Cola, out January 2026 on Mint 400 Records.

Following the smoky heartbreak of her previous single “Mayra,” Gardner dives headfirst into stranger, more cinematic territory. “Waves” feels like a séance in 4/4 time — a haunted tale told through a trembling wall of guitar reverb, thunderous drums, and hypnotic basslines. The track tells the story of a lighthouse keeper haunted by his ghostly wife, sung from beyond the grave through Gardner’s spectral, echo-drenched vocals.

The accompanying music video, created and directed by Gardner herself, drops listeners right into the flickering candlelight of the lighthouse — a kaleidoscopic vision full of eerie color and dreamlike distortion. It’s less a performance clip than an immersive fever dream, a perfect match for Gardner’s otherworldly sound.

Lyrically, “Waves” blends Gothic romance and surreal imagery: “Ooo won’t you please stop haunting me? / Round every corner and all that I can see.” It’s both macabre and moving — a love story unraveling across time, loss, and the endless churn of the sea. Gardner’s knack for atmosphere is on full display, balancing vintage 70s textures with a modern DIY edge that recalls artists like Shannon & The Clams or La Luz.

With Merry Cherry Cola, Gardner continues to shape Merry Cherry Bomb into something rare — a project that feels both nostalgic and futuristic, charmingly handmade yet deeply cinematic. If “Mayra” was a peek into her emotional depths, “Waves” is a plunge into her imagination, where heartbreak, surf riffs, and spectral love stories collide.

“Waves” is available on December 5th, and Merry Cherry Cola crashes ashore this January via Mint 400 Records.