Pinkshift

In 2018, Ashrita Kumar and Paul Vallejo met at Johns Hopkins University during a school event. The two wrote demos under the name Sugar Crisis, releasing their first demo song "Mars" in 2019. Looking to start a band, the pair desired to find a drummer. To do this, the pair waited outside the drumming practice room on campus, eventually finding and recruiting Myron Houngbedji. The group, renaming themselves to Pinkshift after the redshift phenomenon,{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=Evie |date=October 20, 2020 |title=Pinkshift talk "pinch me" moments and more – interview |url=https://allpunkedup.com/pinkshift-talk-pinch-me-moments-and-more-interview/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=All Punked Up}} began performing in events around Johns Hopkins University. The group subsequently found Erich Weinroth after Kumar and Vallejo set up profiles on the dating app Tinder in search of a bassist.{{Cite web |last=Tenreyro |first=Tatiana |date=November 15, 2020 |title=Meet Pinkshift, 2020'S Perfect Antidote Of Pop-Punk Angst |url=https://www.spin.com/2020/11/pinkshift-interview-2020/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 20, 2022 |website=Spin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202221212/https://www.spin.com/2020/11/pinkshift-interview-2020/ |archive-date=2023-02-02 }}

File:Pinkshift band in September 2021.jpg in September 2021]]

On March 13, 2020, Pinkshift released their debut single "On Thin Ice". However, the band's next single, "i'm gonna tell my therapist on you," released on July 31, 2020, marked the beginning of their rise to fame after the song went viral on Reddit and various punk musicians, like Chris No. 2 from Anti-Flag, showed support for the band.{{cite web |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |title=Pinkshift are one of 2020's most vital new punk bands (2 new songs + Q&A) |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/pinkshift-are-one-of-2020s-most-vital-new-punk-bands-2-new-songs-qa/ |accessdate=14 August 2022 |work=Brooklyn Vegan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205112242/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/pinkshift-are-one-of-2020s-most-vital-new-punk-bands-2-new-songs-qa/ |archive-date=2022-12-05 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Mia |date=October 5, 2022 |title=Pinkshift: Baltimore trio on the verge of becoming pop-punk's next big stars |url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/pinkshift-interview-love-me-forever-debut-album-baltimore-pop-punk-radar-3322403 |access-date=October 21, 2022 |website=NME |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104055150/https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/pinkshift-interview-love-me-forever-debut-album-baltimore-pop-punk-radar-3322403 |archive-date=2023-01-04 |url-status=live}} On April 2, 2021, the band released their debut extended play Saccharine to strong reviews from critics.{{Cite web |last=VanValkenburgh |first=Anna |date=April 2, 2021 |title=Pinkshift Release Debut EP Saccharine |url=https://www.spin.com/2021/04/pinkshift-release-debut-ep-saccharine/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |website=Spin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204045737/https://www.spin.com/2021/04/pinkshift-release-debut-ep-saccharine/ |archive-date=2023-02-04 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Chris |date=May 4, 2022 |title=Pinkshift's music spikes pleasure with pain |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/music/2022/05/04/pinkshift-interview/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} These reviews convinced the band members to pursue a career in music, over continuing higher education.{{cite web |last=Wilkes |first=Emma |title=Pinkshift: From med school to being one of rock's hottest new noise |url=https://www.kerrang.com/pinkshift-interview-ashrita-kumar-med-school-rocks-hottest-new-noises |accessdate=14 August 2022 |work=Kerrang! |date=July 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131215907/https://www.kerrang.com/pinkshift-interview-ashrita-kumar-med-school-rocks-hottest-new-noises |archive-date=2023-01-31 |url-status=live}} On December 31, 2021, the band announced on Twitter that Weinroth was removed from the band's lineup due to cultural and musical differences.{{Cite tweet |number=1477050091403980804 |user=pinkshiftmd |title=A little bit of news heading into 2022!! Erich is no longer playing bass with Pinkshift, we really appreciate all that he contributed as a member but ultimately felt that it was not a good fit for us culturally or musically and wanted to make a change in the new year🖤 |date=December 31, 2021 |access-date=November 19, 2024}}

Pinkshift's debut album, Love Me Forever, was released on October 21, 2022 via Hopeless Records. The record received positive reviews from critics, who noted how the album was "sharp, {{Sic|skilful}}, and bristling with infectious energy".{{Cite web |last=Ruskell |first=Nick |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Album review: Pinkshift – Love Me Forever |url=https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-pinkshift-love-me-forever |url-status=live |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Kerrang! |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030134905/https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-pinkshift-love-me-forever |archive-date=2022-10-30}} In November and December 2023, the band performed as an opening act for Pussy Riot during their North American tour.{{cite web|last=Hatfield|first=Amanda|date=September 6, 2023|title=Pussy Riot announce tour w/ Pinkshift, Sloppy Jane, Death Valley Girls & more|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/pussy-riot-announce-tour-w-pinkshift-sloppy-jane-death-valley-girls-more/|work=BrooklynVegan|accessdate=August 28, 2024}} Pinkshift also performed alongside The Gaslight Anthem during certain shows of the latter's 2024 North American tour,{{Cite web |last=Casalena |first=Em |date=March 19, 2024 |title=The Gaslight Anthem Announces North American Tour in 2024 |url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-gaslight-anthem-announces-north-american-tour-in-2024/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=American Songwriter}} and is set to perform alongside the Linda Lindas on their 2025 North American tour.{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=October 22, 2024 |title=The Linda Lindas Are Bringing ‘No Obligation’ on 2025 North American Tour |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/linda-lindas-2025-north-american-tour-dates-1235139984/ |access-date=October 29, 2024 |website=Rolling Stone}}

Kerrang! has described Pinkshift's sound as "blending pop-punk with elements of grunge and alt rock", with "whispers of all sorts of rock and punk influences".{{cite web|last=Bulmer|first=Eloise|title=No-one wants to listen to a bunch of white dudes complaining about the same sh*t": Pinkshift and the new wave of pop-punk|url=https://www.kerrang.com/no-one-wants-to-listen-to-a-bunch-of-white-dudes-complaining-about-the-same-sh-t-pinkshift-and-the-new-wave-of-pop-punk|work=Kerrang!|date=June 25, 2021 |accessdate=14 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201133940/https://www.kerrang.com/no-one-wants-to-listen-to-a-bunch-of-white-dudes-complaining-about-the-same-sh-t-pinkshift-and-the-new-wave-of-pop-punk |archive-date=2023-02-01 |url-status=live}} Pinkshift has used their platform to advocate for racial diversity, Palestine, and gender inclusivity (owing to Kumar identifying as non-binary).{{Cite web |last=DeWald |first=Mike |date=August 5, 2024 |title=RIFF RADIO: Pinkshift claiming their artistic humanity, music without borders |url=https://riffmagazine.com/features/pinkshift-artistic-humanity/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=RIFF Magazine}}

• Love Me Forever (2022)

• Saccharine (2021)
• Suraksha (2023)
• love me for the summer (with caco) (2024)

• "On Thin Ice" (2020)
• "i'm gonna tell my therapist on you" (2020)
• "Rainwalk" (2020)
• "bathroom community" (with Glass Beach) (2021)
• "nothing (in my head)" (2022)
• "i'm not crying you're crying" (2022)
• "GET OUT" (2022)
• "in a breath" (2022)
• "to me" (2023)
• "home" (2023)
• "EAT YOUR FRIENDS" (with Jhariah) (2023)
• "Knead" (cover of Knead by Illuminati Hotties) (2024)

• "i'm gonna tell my therapist on you" (2020)
• "Mars" (2021)
• "nothing in my head" (2022)
• "Get Out" (2022)
• "To Me" (2023)
• "Eat Your Friends" (2023)

Heavy Music Awards

{{awards table}}

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| 2022 || Pinkshift || Best International Breakthrough Band || {{nom}} || {{Cite web |date=March 9, 2022 |title=Heavy Music Awards 2022 Finalists Announced

|url=https://www.heavymusicawards.com/news/heavy-music-awards-2022-finalists-announced |access-date=November 12, 2024 |website=Heavy Music Awards}}

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Kerrang! Awards

{{awards table}}

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| 2022 || Pinkshift || New Noise Award || {{nom}} || {{Cite web |last=Childers |first=Chad |date=June 24, 2022 |title=See All The Winners From the 2022 Kerrang! Music Awards |url=https://loudwire.com/winners-2022-kerrang-music-awards/ |access-date=November 12, 2024 |website=Loudwire}}

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{{reflist}}

• {{official|https://www.pinkshiftmd.com/}}

Category:Pop punk groups from Maryland

Category:American emo musical groups

Category:American grunge groups

Category:American musical trios

Category:Female-fronted musical groups

Category:Hopeless Records artists