Pinkshift

Pinkshift stands out in today’s pop-punk landscape through sharp yet emotionally open songwriting, catchy hooks, and a mix of cultural heritages that set the Baltimore trio apart. Their first release on Hopeless Records, the 2022 album Love Me Forever, was followed a year later by the Suraksha EP.

Ashrita Kumar, Paul Vallejo, and Myron Houngbedji crossed paths as students at Johns Hopkins University and launched the band in 2019. Widespread attention arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic after the track “I’m Gonna Tell My Therapist On You” spread rapidly online. Drawing from punk, grunge, alternative rock, and emo—Nirvana, No Doubt, and Arctic Monkeys among their touchstones—the group put out its first EP, Saccharine, in 2021. Strong listener reaction convinced the members to leave college and pursue music full-time. They signed with Hopeless Records before delivering their debut full-length, the Will Yip-produced Love Me Forever, which featured the streaming favorite “I’m Not Crying You’re Crying.” Momentum continued into 2023 with the Suraksha EP and a collaboration on the single “Eat Your Friends” alongside N.Y.C. musician, illustrator, and animator Jhariah.