Pinkshift

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Pinkshift formed in 2019 around Ashrita Kumar, Paul Vallejo and Myron Houngbedji, who met at Johns Hopkins University — initially in a student setting before becoming more involved in the American punk and alternative scene. Pinkshift crafts a sound that blends pop punk, emo, grunge and alternative rock, with nervous guitars, direct choruses and a melodic tension that leaves room for both urgency and subtlety. The band drew attention in 2020 with the single "i'm gonna tell my therapist on you", following an earlier track, "On Thin Ice", and released the EP Saccharine in 2021. After an initial period as a four-piece, Pinkshift continued as a trio from 2022. That same year saw the debut album Love Me Forever, followed by the EP Suraksha in 2023, then love me for the summer (with caco) in 2024 and the second album Earthkeeper in 2025. On stage, Pinkshift has played clubs, toured across North America and opened for Pussy Riot, The Gaslight Anthem and The Linda Lindas. The band fits into a contemporary rock tradition that channels the energy of 1990s and 2000s punk while updating it with a more current approach to songwriting.