The Daylights‘ “I Hope This Gets To You” only recently came across my desk (the single’s been out since November), but I’m blanking as to how/where/whom. And really, why I’m so behind on this one, because there’s quite the story to the song.

The Daylights are an L.A. trio featuring brothers Ran (guitars/vocals/keys) and Ricky Jackson (bass/vocals) and Svend Lerche on drums. They released their self-titled debut, produced by Youth (U2, The Verve), last September. “We didn’t have major label backing,” says Ran, “but he was very kind and was a fan of what we were doing as a band, and a few months later, we managed to get ourselves and some gear over to London.”

The Daylights must have picked up a production trick or two from their time in England, as “I Hope This Gets To You” was recorded after they returned to California (and doesn’t appear on their album), yet it perfectly encapsulates the epic, widescreen sound associated with UK bands like The Waterboys. Hearing the song and not knowing anything about The Daylights, I assumed the band originated from over there.

“I Hope This Gets To You” was crafted in conjunction with L.A. film director Walter May, whose girlfriend, Lex, had moved across the country to attend graduate school (the four fellas are former roommates). With the hands-on video below (creative in its very simplicity), “I Hope This Gets To You” was designed to serve as a surprise “viral valentine” to the other end of May’s LDR. He wanted its message to reach her without direct contact, fueled only by the pass-along power of the Interweb. It took just three days.

Seek out The Daylights on tour throughout March. In April, the trio boards VH1’s Best Cruise Ever, performing alongside the likes of Train, The Script, One eskimO, and Civil Twilight.

Purchase The Daylights – “I Hope This Gets To You” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.