Dominic Fike’s Rocket — A Return Worth Waiting For
After stepping away from the spotlight for a bit, Dominic Fike is finally back — and he hasn’t missed a step. Over the past year he teased fans with a couple tracks alongside Kevin Abstract under their joint project Geezer, delivering one of my favorite songs of the summer. But with Rocket, his 12-track mixtape, Fike offers something more complete: a raw, intentional project that reminds us why we fell in love with his sound in the first place.
From the jump, you can hear how much he’s grown. Every beat, every sample, every recording choice feels carefully considered. The way he weaves between indie rock, hip-hop, and pop without losing his identity is something few artists pull off — yet here, it feels effortless. He’s not just experimenting with sounds; he’s building them into something unmistakably his.
Dominic Fike performing at Pier Six Pavilion (Baltimore, MD) | Photo by Evan Kim
A standout moment came with the release of the “Great Pretender” visual — one of my favorite songs on the tape, and a perfect snapshot of Dominic’s ability to turn personal reflection into something cinematic. Other favorites like “David Lyons,” “$500 Fine,” and “Sandman” showcase just how wide his palette has become, each track unique in its texture but still grounded in his signature style.
The lyrics cut deeper this time, too. Much of the mixtape feels like an open window into his life as a new father and everything he’s already been through at such a young age. We saw that side of him earlier this summer at Lollapalooza in Chicago, when he brought out his one-year-old son for an unforgettable moment — tiny headphones on, singing together in front of thousands. That mix of vulnerability and joy runs throughout Rocket.
If there’s one critique, it’s that some of the songs end too soon. With many under two minutes, they leave you wanting more — just as the groove locks in, it’s already on to the next. But maybe that’s the point: to keep you replaying it over and over.
With Rocket, Dominic Fike shows that even after time away, he hasn’t lost his edge — in fact, he’s sharper, more intentional, and more personal than ever. It’s the kind of project that pushes boundaries while still giving fans that familiar Fike energy we’ve been craving.