Pinkshift Tour Starts Today, We cannot wait to See them next week, Are you seeing them?
Today Baltimore’s Pinkshift - Ashrita Kumar (vocals, they/them), Paul Vallejo (guitar, he/him), and Myron Houngbedji (drums, he/him) - released their debut album, entitled Love Me Forever. Since forming in 2018, the trio has been making their mark both in the U.S. and across the pond thanks to a string of critically acclaimed singles, and not-to-be-missed live shows, alongside the likes of their punk peers Pup, Mannequin Pussy, and more. With their music, Pinkshift delivers powerful messages and shows fellow POC artists that they can and should take up space in a predominantly white music scene. The result is one of the most inventive bands in the punk scene today.
Love Me Forever, was recorded by Will Yip (Turnstile, Mannequin Pussy, The Wonder Years, Circa Survive, Tigers Jaw) and over the course of its’ 12 blistering songs, the album completely unleashes the full force and fury of the band. Saying “Pinkshift has arrived and you’re going to love them forever,” Consequence picked the band as their “Artist of the Month" and Stereogum called the album a “fierce, furious, vulnerable debut” from an “essential act in modern pop-punk.”
DOWNLOAD, PURCHASE & STREAM LOVE ME FOREVER
Last night Pinkshift kicked off their North American tour with a packed hometown show and continues tonight in Washington D.C. They will also play Los Angeles on November 5 and Brooklyn on November 17. All shows are listed below and tickets are available here.
More on Pinkshift & Love Me Forever
Forming in 2018 while they were students at Johns Hopkins University, Pinkshift has experienced significant landmarks in their career to date - the video for Saccharine’s “i’m gonna tell my therapist on you” went viral, they’ve supported PUP and Mannequin Pussy on tour, has been featured in The Guardian, Kerrang!, Stereogum and Alternative Press and sold out their first ever headline show at Baltimore’s Ottobar – but it’s just the tip of the iceberg as anyone who has seen their highly energetic, whirlwind and very sweaty live shows can attest.
PINKSHIFT TOUR DATES
10/21 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd
10/22 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Roboto Project
10/23 - Cleveland, OH - Mahall's
10/25 - Detroit, MI - El Club - We will be checking this show out! Come with us!
10/26 - Chicago, IL - Cobra Lounge
10/27 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
10/29 - Denver, CO - Lost Lake
10/ 30 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
11/01 - Seattle, WA - Barboza
11/02 - Portland, OR - Mission Theater
11/04 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
11/05 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
11/06 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar
11/08 - Dallas, TX - Ruins
11/09 - Austin, TX - Empire Control Room
11/11 - Orlando, FL - Will's Pub
11/13 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
11/14 - Nashville, TN - Drkmttr Collective
11/15 - Charlotte, NC - The Milestone Club
11/17 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere (Zone One)
11/18 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
11/19 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
Unlike, Saccharine which was written over a period of a few years, Love Me Forever was a more concentrated effort, mostly written during the pandemic. “We were concerned this wouldn’t feel like an actual album,” admits Kumar, “but because we all worked on it together throughout this period of time, it feels really cohesive. It defines an era of our lives.” Adds Houngbedji, “with everything that’s going on – both in the world and in our own lives – it feels like it was a very transitional period that influenced what we were writing about. They all have similar themes.” It’s not just a no-holds-barred reflection of the state of the world today, however. It’s one delivered from a unique point of view within a music scene that’s predominantly white. It makes Love Me Forever all the more important.
“I feel like the biggest thing of us existing in this scene,” says Houngbedji, “is just for more people of color being able to see us – and if they had doubts about going into music or like occupying this kind of space because of what the scene is like, they'll be like, 'Oh, wait...' We've had people of color come up to us after we played saying 'You make me want to start my own band' or ‘You made me feel more comfortable being there without being scrutinized.’ And I think that counts for something.”
Adds Kumar, “It’s cool seeing people at our shows who are like ‘I’m going to start wearing my traditional jewelry because fuck it!’ and I’m like ‘You should! It’s stylish, it’s cool, it makes you unique – be proud of it!’”
That attitude, ultimately, is the beating heart of Pinkshift. It’s about defying the odds on both a personal and a universal level and showing the world – unapologetically – that they’re taking it on, and that the world better be ready. In fact, so invested in what the band means, they’ve delayed opportunities and offers for more traditional careers paths, like med school (Houngbedji & Kumar) or in chemical engineering (Vallejo) to focus on the band instead. What’s more, it’s paying off – “I literally never thought I would ever be in a position like this in music,” says Vallejo. “I feel like we can actually do something with our music,” agrees Kumar. “Before, it felt almost selfish to be in a band, because we were all going to do different jobs that were probably <> going to fucking help people. But now, I feel we can make people feel empowered to be themselves and express themselves. Even if it's ugly, because sometimes anger is self-care – especially when you're faced with all these systems that are just always trying to fucking kill you.”