Puerto Announces New 7” Vinyl: QUIT DREAMING / HOLDING ON TO THE MUNDANE

San Diego surf-rock group Puerto are gearing up to release their new 7” EP, Quit Dreaming / Holding On To The Mundane, on September 4, 2026. The release will be available on vinyl, and all major streaming platforms, and marks the band's most confident studio effort to date. “It felt like we stepped into a bigger league than the first EP,” lead singer and guitarist Zach Polletta says. “I had a lot more confidence, and we were able to add flavor at every step of the recording process.” 

The record is recorded all-to-tape at San Diego’s legendary Big Fish Recording Studio, and engineered and mixed by Jordan Andreed. The release also marks another chapter in Blind Owl Record’s growing 100% certified analog collection.

Formed after a surf trip through Europe, Puerto, formed by Polleta, have built a distinctive sound that blends '60s rock, soul, jazz, and classic surf into something their own. Together, they’ve earned recognition through their debut album Portugal, appearances in Kyle Buthman's Scenic Route to Salinas surf film, collaborations with Salty Crew, and performances supporting acclaimed acts including Mattson 2 and Montalban Quintet.

Nowland & Polletta

For Polletta, the choice to release music on vinyl has now become an essential part of the band's creative identity: “Once I did that EP, I was like, this is pretty much the only way I want to record moving forward," he says. "When you can have something imprinted on a record, it feels more timeless."

The new approach to Quit Dreaming / Holding On To The Mundane bleeds into Puerto’s contributions from close collaborators; Jack Aldridge adds guitar and bass to “Holding On To The Mundane,” while Matt Beres contributes the signature guitar riff on “Quit Dreaming”, something that Poletta notes as being nearly impossible to replicate: "It’s pretty funny, because I try and emulate it without him now. It's not that complex, but there's something about his tone and the way he played it that was pretty special, so I'm pretty stoked he's on that track.”

The first side of the release, “Quit Dreaming,” explores the changing identity of Polletta's hometown. However, rather than prescribing a single meaning, he intentionally leaves the song deliberately ambiguous: “I've always wanted songwriting to be open to interpretation," he explains. “But for me, it's about growing up in San Diego and watching the idea of the California dream change over time. When everyone chases the same vision, it can start to lose its meaning. The song is really about recalibrating what that dream means for myself.”

La Jolla: Polletta during the filming of "Quit Dreaming"

On the other hand, “Holding On To The Mundane” can be interpreted as a response to the modern ideas of success and fulfillment. Beneath the surf guitars and laid-back melodies is a quieter message, one that pushes back against constant ambition in favor of presence: “People spend so much time chasing these huge ideas of what they think they need,” Polletta explains. “But you're always wanting more. If you can find pleasure in simpler things, it helps you slow down and realize what actually matters.”

Supporting the release is a corresponding music video for “Quit Dreaming,” directed by San Diego filmmaker Zack Mack, a cinematographer, editor, photographer, and director whose work emerged from the city's skateboarding culture. The video documents a journey through San Diego's neighborhoods via their city signs. “It was super spontaneous, and that's what I love about music, art, film,” says Polletta. “It forced me to visit all these different neighborhoods that I usually just pass through.”

Pacific Beach: Polletta during the filming of "Quit Dreaming"

It's a fitting sentiment for a band whose music has always valued atmosphere over excess. Like the grooves pressed into the 7” itself, Quit Dreaming / Holding On To The Mundane invites listeners to slow down, drop the needle, and stay present, at least for awhile. 

Quit Dreaming / Holding On To The Mundane will be released worldwide on September 4, 2026, and available on 7” vinyl, CD, and all major streaming platforms. Click HERE to pre-order the album today.