Written By: Paul “Sal” Salazar

Touring life usually runs on autopilot: gig, set up, play, pack, drive, sleep. But PINKSHIFT have been learning to slow it down a little. Between shows, they’ve been sneaking in moments of joy; fifteen minutes at the beach, a quick drink at a local bar, or just time to breathe before stepping back on stage to face crowds that already know every word. 

“The record’s only been out for a month, and people are already singing songs that weren’t even singles,” they said with a mix of surprise and gratitude. “It’s really touching seeing songs connect right away.”

That instant connection is what sets the Baltimore-based band apart. Their sound blends the melodic urgency of early 2000s emo with the sharp edges of hardcore, creating something that feels both nostalgic and entirely new. When talking about their latest single, they light up. 

“We recorded it right before shooting the ending of The Ride video,” they explained. “It had been an idea for over a year, something we’d jammed live before. When we finally got back in the studio, we decided to go completely left field and switch gears mid-song into something more hardcore.”

The song, “Authority Problems,” was born from that experimentation. Its first half is built on tight punk riffs and swaggering cadence before it fractures into a chaotic, thrashing breakdown. 

“Ashrita was inspired by Megan Thee Stallion—the flow, the energy, the cadence,” they said. “It became this really fun, jumpy song that people can resonate with, especially now, when everyone’s fed up with people who think they know what’s best but are really just serving themselves.”

They call it a “me power song,” a rallying cry against complacency and control. The recording process was just as fierce as the final product. 

“In the second half, we started doing ad-libs; Paul and I screaming into the mic between lines,” they laughed. “It was chaos in the best way.”

Even as their success rises, PINKSHIFT remains grounded in the DIY ethos that shaped them. Fans can still find old versions of their songs floating around online. 

“If you go on YouTube and search Paid 5-6 from January, you’ll find an early version,” they said. “Same with Blood. There are two totally different versions up there.”

Next year marks another first: their first full year of touring and their first trip to India. “It’s our first tour past Europe,” they said, grinning. “We’re taking everyone to India. It’s awesome.”

PINKSHIFT’s world keeps getting bigger, but their purpose stays the same. They’re building community, creating space, and proving that punk is still a place for resistance, joy, and inclusion. Their music hits like a rallying cry—a reminder that punk was never meant to be perfect. It was meant to be real.

FOLLOW PINKSHIFT: WEBSITE // INSTAGRAM // FACEBOOK // YOUTUBE

photos by Paul "Sal" Salazar