Los Angeles-based band Beauty School Dropout—comprising Colie Hutzler (vocals), Brent “Beepus” Burdett (bass), Bardo Novotny (guitar/producer), and Colton Flurry (drums)—has been making waves in the alternative rock scene since their formation in 2020. Their unique blend of pop-punk and alternative rock elements has given them a dedicated fanbase.
In a time when rock music is constantly reinventing itself, few bands have managed to bridge genres and generations quite like Beauty School Dropout. With a name that hints at rebellion and roots in Los Angeles’ creative chaos, the band has evolved from a passion project into one of the most exciting names in modern rock.
Beauty School Dropout began as a solo endeavour by vocalist Colie Hutzler. After years of performing and writing music with other bands, including Strangefaces, Hutzler wanted to create something fresh and real. Eventually, he reconnected with longtime friend and bassist Brent Burdett, known by fans as Beepus. The two were soon joined by multi-instrumentalist and producer Bardo Novotny, solidifying the trio’s early foundation.
PHOTO: NATASHA AUSTRICH
Not long after, drummer Colton Flurry joined the lineup, bringing a rhythmic punch to match the band’s explosive energy. The result was a group that felt like a traditional rock band and a creative collective, equally comfortable riffing on pop-punk hooks, experimental production, and alt-pop songwriting.
Beauty School Dropout’s debut album, “Where Did All the Butterflies Go?”, is more than just a rush of alt-rock energy—it’s a story of unrequited love, told through soaring riffs, infectious hooks, and lyrics that dig into both the ecstasy and the ache of chasing connection that never quite arrives. The Los Angeles trio has been carving their place in the scene with bold singles and high-voltage performances, but this record feels like their most complete statement yet: part heartbreak diary, part dance-floor ignition.
SOURCE: SPOTIFY
The album kicks off with FEVER, a track that perfectly sets the pace. It’s urgent, fiery, and brimming with desire; the kind of song that makes you move before you even think about it. From there, singles like SEX APPEAL and ON YOUR LIPS lean into playful confidence, strutting forward with swagger while hinting at the longing that runs beneath the surface. They sound like party anthems on first listen, but the undercurrent of emotional tension gives them more staying power.
The heart of the album, though, lies in its quieter moments. TWO OF US is the clearest window into the record’s emotional core, offering a vulnerable meditation on love that asks for sacrifice without promise of return. It’s a ballad for those who’ve given everything only to be left wanting—raw, honest, and disarmingly tender. This track, more than any other, makes clear that Beauty School Dropout aren’t just chasing hits; they’re telling a story.
The band balance raw rock grit with pop-leaning polish, creating a sound that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. The guitars snarl, the drums punch, but the choruses glide with radio-ready smoothness. It’s the kind of blend that lets them slot comfortably alongside alt-rock peers while also carving their own lane.
What makes Where Did All the Butterflies Go? so compelling is the duality at its core. On one hand, it’s brash, bold, and ready for arenas. On the other, it’s fragile, peeling back the bravado to reveal a heart still beating hard for something it can’t quite have. That tension between strength and softness, swagger and sincerity; it what gives the record its bite.
As a debut, it does more than introduce Beauty School Dropout. It positions them as a band unafraid to tell a story with both volume and vulnerability, wrapping personal heartbreak in massive choruses and electrifying energy. Where Did All the Butterflies Go? isn’t just an album title—it’s a question the band answers across every track, finding beauty in the chaos of love that doesn’t always love you back.
So, where did all the butterflies go?
Maybe they never left. Maybe they just turned into something bolder, louder, and ready to burn the world down – one riff at a time.