Helicopter Leaves is the solo project of Anthony Vaccaro. Vaccaro is better known as a member of the indie-pop band Beach Bunny. He is based out of Chicago. As a solo act, Vaccaro emerged as Helicopter Leaves in 2023 with the release of “Dirty Black Cars,” a punchy indie rock song that would prove to be the start of this singular sound. You can hear Vaccaro evolve into a garage rock-inspired experimentalist on his 2023 debut, Get Stuck In. The 13-song LP introduced a fearlessness that allows Vaccaro’s distorted ballads to toe the line between pop sensibilities and nuanced rock fusion.
2026 marks three years since Vaccaro’s debut as Helicopter Leaves and the start of a new era. His sophomore effort, Sabrina Nickels, is scheduled for release on March 27.
To celebrate the new album and the return of Helicopter Leaves, the announcement of the album was accompanied by “Moreoff More Off Than On,” the album’s lead single. The short yet explosive single continues the artist’s trend of consistently finding new ways to express his individuality. There is a fuzzy warmth that radiates beneath the unpredictable single, softening the impact of the firework-style crescendos. It is miraculous how much personality Vaccaro can pack into less than two minutes, keeping a steady, inviting atmosphere while leaping from gentle lows to palpable highs. Throughout, the lyrics tell the story of learning to slow life down when you can, while avoiding complacency. “Moreoff More Off Than On” centers around the abstract songwriting in a way that makes the vagueness of it all feel deeply personal, and therein lies the magic of Helicopter Leaves. The artist’s new album is poised to be a landmark release for Vaccaro, and the lead single is an emotional and mesmerizing preview from Sabrina Nickels.
