Song of the Day: “What If” by Katy Guillen & The Drive
Kansas City duo trades their blues-rock badges for a passport to Indie-Pop-Rock Glory
Katy Guillen & The Drive’s second full-length effort, Make That Sound (released October 17, 2025) is a testament to moving out of the “scrappy garage” phase of their career and into a polished, high-ceiling studio where they’ve clearly discovered that reverb isn’t just an effect, it’s a lifestyle.
Guitarist/vocalist Katy Guillen and drummer Stephanie Williams have created a sonic tug-of-war between high-octane road-trip anthems and “I’m-crying-into-my-artisanal-coffee” vulnerability. One minute you’re being run over by the “express train” drums of the opener “Outcome,” and the next you’re being gently tucked into bed by the acoustic-led “Take a Break.”
They’ve successfully navigated the “Sophomore Slump” by leaning into a sound that is bigger, slicker, and occasionally experimental. It’s the kind of record that makes you want to drive a convertible through a desert, even if you actually just drive a Honda Civic to work.
Track four, “What If,” sounds like the theme music for the moment the protagonist in a movie decides to quit their soul-crushing job and strike out on their own. It has a propelling, cinematic quality that makes your walk to the grocery store feel significantly more epic than it actually is. Katy Guillen spends a lot of this album being tasteful and measured, but on “What If,” she lets the leash out. The chorus hits with a melodic punch that proves you don’t need a five-piece band to create a “wall of sound.” The central guitar hook is sticky enough to require medical intervention to get out of your head... It’s a masterclass in how to be “Indie” without forgetting that rock music is supposed to be fun.
The Song
Spotify:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/song/what-if/1833597643
Bonus Video: Fan shot live version from Knuckleheads in Kansas City
The Album
Spotify:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/make-that-sound/1833597638