Earth Keeper (Blue Ice Vinyl)

Baltimore's Pinkshift - made up of vocalist Ashrita Kumar (they/them), guitarist Paul Vallejo (he/him) and drummer Myron Houngbedji (he/him) - is back with their latest album 'Earthkeeper.' The record is a patchwork of anxiety, angst, grief and hope, juggling experiences both personal and existential across themes such as loss, one's individual purpose, and what it means to watch the notion of a stable life collapse before your eyes.

After more than two years of relentless touring alongside bands like Mannequin Pussy, PUP, The Linda Lindas, Jigsaw Youth, Pussy Riot, and Origami Angel, are not the same people that they were when they made their 2022 debut Love Me Forever. They've grown, matured and been altered by experience. "The first album was influenced a lot by stuff we grew up listening to because we'd never really toured," offers Myron.

"It's really cool that now, after all this touring, there's bits and pieces of all these bands we wouldn't otherwise have listened to that have weaved their way into our songwriting." Pinkshift stand for unity, collectivity, community and action, but above all, the Maryland trio are hoping their new songs can have a more personal, emotional resonance too. "I think with this record, I'm trying to inspire you to, give a f***," Ashrita concludes.