Beauty School Dropout Find Their Voice on Where Did All the Butterflies Go?

When a band releases their debut album, the question is always the same: is this a statement of who they are, or just the beginning of something bigger? For Los Angeles alt-rock group Beauty School Dropout, their album Where Did All the Butterflies Go? is more than an arrival. It is a significant checkpoint on a journey already marked by sold-out shows, festival appearances,and collaborations with some of the biggest names in rock. Released September 5, the 14-track album captures both a restless search for meaning and arenewed sense of excitement. Frontman Colie Hutzler and his bandmates Brent Burnett, Bardo Novotny, and Colton Flurry infused their reflections on obsession, change, and love into a record that feels both deeply personal and built for stadiums.

“I think the headspace we’re in now is quite different from where we were during the album’s writing process,” Brent admits. “However, Colie’s reflections on relationships and the obsessions that can sometimes fade into indifference really resonate throughout the record. You can hear that in every song.” The album title itself reflects that searching spirit.

“Where did the lust and love for that go? Where did it disappear to?” Colie asks. For him, it connects to the bigger picture of BSD’s current chapter. The band teased the record with four striking singles: “Sex Appeal,” “On Your Lips,” “Fever,” and “Two of Us.” Each track carries its own unique weight, but together they create a pathway to the heart of the album. “They’re definitely puzzle pieces,” Bardo explains.“We’ve been toying with the phrase ‘sister songs,’ and there’s one for each of the singles on the album, along with some extra surprises we’re excited for people to hear.” Those singles also delivered BSD some surreal moments of recognition. Hearing “On Your Lips” on KROQ and SiriusXM’s Alt Nation was one of them. “It’s always humbling,” says Bardo. “We’re in a constant state of chasing the next thing because that’s the nature of being an artist. But it’s cool to step back and realize, like, damn, this is 12-year-old me’s dream.” Every great record has a song that ties it together, and for BSD, that song is “Adeline.” “It’s territory we haven’t explored before, both lyrically and sonically,” Brent explains. “We’ve been calling it our ‘Wonderwall’ or our ‘Iris’ because it feels so central to everything.” Colie adds simply, “It’s so gentle. My favorite song.” Although BSD has already toured extensively and collaborated with music legends, they view Where Did All the Butterflies Go? as the beginning of a new chapter. Colie describes it as the most complete statement the band has made so far. “We finally found our sound,” he says. “This is the most proud we’ve all been of anything we’ve released. It feels cohesive, and it gives us the chance to share deeper cuts with our fans. We wanted someone to be able to say, ‘Song 13 is my favorite,’ even if it never becomes a hit.”

For Colie, that kind of connection is as important as the singles. An album filled with hidden gems proves that BSD is not just chasing commercial success; they are building a body of work that fans can grow with. That growth has been shaped by mentorship. The band has worked with Mark Hoppus, Alex Gaskarth, Royal & the Serpent, MOD SUN, and Jason Aalon Butler. “Everyone of our collaborators has been more of an insightful guide than someone trying to impose their vision,” Brent explains. “They’ve each accomplished so much on their own, so with us it feels more like mentorship. The best part has been hearing their firsthand experiences—the war stories, the ups and downs—that show us how to create something lasting.” Even with that support, Brent admits the harshest critics are themselves. “I think we put more pressure on ourselves than anyone else could, but that fuels the chaos.”That chaos has carried them to some of the most iconic festivals in the world. They have hit stages at Lollapalooza, Download Festival, and most recently joined the historic 30th anniversary of Warped Tour in Long Beach. “It felt like we were exactly where we needed to be,” Colie reflects. “After being involved with it for so long and seeing it from an adolescent perspective, now as adults contributing to its return thanks to Kevin Lyman, it felt comforting and natural. It’s great. For a long time, it seemed like we were one of the few rock bands in LA, but now there are so many more. The rock scene has come back to life, and that’s really cool. There’s a sense of comfort in that.” After Warped Tour, BSD launched into a packed tour schedule, hitting the stage with Blink-182on the Missionary Impossible Tour, followed by a six-show headlining tour in Europe. “Honestly, everything about Europe excites us,” Bardo says. “The crowds are so engaged with the kind of music we create. They really appreciate the visual experience of a rock show. Playing these songs live for the first time in London—a city so culturally significant in rock—was an honor.” Colie shares a similar sentiment, stating that Europe has always felt more than just another tourist stop. “It’s always felt like a second home to me,” he explains. “The crowds are incredibly passionate, and there’s this sense that they want you to succeed. Playing in London for the album release just confirmed that for us.” The band also toured with Letlive, a group known for its electrifying performances. For Colie, the connection is deeply personal. “Jason has always been like our big brother,” he shares. “He’s taken care of us for so long and has been a true advocate for authenticity. He shows us that being real and being yourself is the most powerful thing you can do as an artist.”

As they look toward the new year, BSD will be joining MGK on the spring leg of “The LostAmericana Tour”. Touring continuously comes with its challenges, and the band is open about the toll it can take on them. “It’s a lot of shifting headspaces,” Bardo admits. “You play for a crowd of 200 people one night, then 2,000 the next, and then 8,000 after that. Every day feels like a new mission: don’t fall off the stage, fix what breaks, and survive the chaos. Something always breaks on tour. It’s a constant process of trial and error.” Life on the road may be unpredictable, but the band sees it as the ultimate test of their debut. Each show sharpens the songs in ways the studio never could, revealing which choruses resonate, which verses strike deepest, and how fans truly connect. “Touring gives the record a second life,” Colie explains. “It’s one thing to record these songs in a studio, but when you feel people singing them back to you, that’s when you know they belong to more than just us. ”As Beauty School Dropout moves from London clubs to Blink-182’s arena crowds, Where Did All the Butterflies Go?, stands as both a milestone and a launchpad. The album proves they are not only capable of writing anthems built for big stages but also of crafting songs that feel timeless in their intimacy. For a band that has already learned from mentors, survived the chaos of constant touring, and embraced the weight of legacy, the message is simple and urgent. Oras Colie puts it: “Enjoy every moment. Appreciate it. That’s your legacy.”