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17 Bands and Artists with the Most Loyal and Hardcore Audiences

Eric Alper
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17 Bands and Artists with the Most Loyal and Hardcore Audiences

From arena rock to underground anthems, fan devotion is about record sales, sure, but it’s about identity, ritual, and belonging. Hardcore music fandom isn’t measured by chart peaks or TikTok virality—it’s etched into tattoos, passed down across generations, and screamed from the front row. Here are 15 artists whose fans are lifers.

Beyoncé
The BeyHive stream and swarm. With unmatched organization, creative fan theory culture, and unwavering defense of their queen, the BeyHive is part fandom, part global think tank. Their loyalty is about power, purpose, and pride.

BTS
Known as the ARMY, BTS fans are one of the most mobilized fandoms on the planet. From charity drives to coordinated streaming parties, the ARMY transcends language barriers and proves that music—as BTS says—goes “beyond the scene.”

Deadheads (Grateful Dead)
The original mobile fanbase. Deadheads have been following the band (and now Dead & Company) across highways since the ’60s, creating pop-up communities, trading tapes, and living out a philosophy that’s equal parts freedom, jam sessions, and friendship.

Directioners (One Direction)
They’ve stayed loyal through hiatuses, solo careers, Twitter feuds, and tattoo decoding conspiracies. Directioners are proof that boy band fandoms evolve, organize, and wait patiently for the reunion that may or may not ever come.

Frank Sinatra
Before fanbases had hashtags, there were the Bobbysoxers—young women in the 1940s who screamed, swooned, and lined up for hours to see Ol’ Blue Eyes croon. But the Sinatra faithful spans all ages, from Rat Pack revivalists to jazz heads who call him the Voice—for good reason.

Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden fans treat every concert like a sacred pilgrimage. Their mascot Eddie is as iconic as the band, and the dedication stretches from Brazil to Birmingham. Fans proudly wear the t-shirts, learn the solos, and chant the choruses like hymns.

Juggalos (Insane Clown Posse)
Frequently misunderstood but deeply bonded, Juggalos built a full subculture from paint, Faygo, and loyalty. More than fans—they’re family. There’s even a Juggalo March on Washington and annual festivals that rival any mainstream tour.

KISS Army (KISS)
Before fanbases had nicknames, there was the KISS Army. Born in the ‘70s, this group bought their records in the tens of millions while campaigning, protesting radio stations to play their songs, and turned concerts into face-painted battlegrounds of passion.

Little Monsters (Lady Gaga)
Mother Monster’s fans embrace weirdness with open arms and glitter hearts. The Little Monsters created a space for misfits and pop culture rebels, making Gaga not just an icon, but a chosen family figure.

Maggots (Slipknot)
Slipknot fans—known proudly as Maggots—go hard in the pit and even harder online. With their horror-inspired masks and aggressive style, Slipknot’s fandom thrives on catharsis, chaos, and connection. They’re multi-generational, metal-minded, and fiercely loyal.

Metallica
Whether you joined during Kill ‘Em All or The Black Album, Metallica’s fandom shows up in force. They chant every lyric, buy every reissue, and bring their kids—and grandkids—to every tour. Hardcore is generational here.

Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam’s Ten Club is one of the longest-running fan clubs in music history. With bootleg releases, deep-cut setlists, and a near-religious live experience, fans don’t just go to shows—they travel the country for communion.

Phans (Phish)
Much like Deadheads before them, Phans follow Phish with obsessive devotion. The setlist changes nightly, the improv is legendary, and the cow-print pants are optional—but highly encouraged. It’s a jam band fandom that feels like a PhD in groove.

Rats (Rush)
Rush fans—sometimes lovingly called Rats— are scholars. These are people who worship odd time signatures, memorize lyrics like scripture, and cried when Neil Peart died. And yes, they absolutely own a Geddy Lee bass.

The Beatles
They were the first pop band with a fanbase so loud it drowned out the music. Beatlemaniacs changed the way we talk about celebrity, obsession, and musical worship. Decades later, the Fab Four still inspire tribute bands, memes, pilgrimages, dissertations—and shrieks.

The Clique (Twenty One Pilots)
Symbolized by the ||-// logo, The Clique is fiercely protective and emotionally invested. From deep lore to concert cosplay, this fandom lives in lyrics, tattoos, and tweets. To be in the Clique is to live the music and just listen to it.

The Victims (The Killers)
The Victims have been around since “Mr. Brightside” and never left. This fanbase is melodramatic in the best way—dressing in glitter and feathers, dissecting lyrics for lost Las Vegas mythology, and turning Killers concerts into cathartic singalongs.

Hardcore fandom is about sticking around. These audiences built – and continuing to build – cultures. Whether they call themselves Maggots, Little Monsters, the ARMY, or the Clique, they remind us that music also lives in the crowd, the community, and the heartbeat of those who never stopped listening.

15 Hit Songs That Were Rejected by Other Artists (And Why That’s Totally Okay!)

Eric Alper
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15 Hit Songs That Were Rejected by Other Artists (And Why That’s Totally Okay!)

In the wonderfully weird world of pop music, timing is everything. A smash hit for one artist could’ve been a dusty demo in someone else’s inbox. But let’s not feel too bad for the ones who passed—because sometimes, it just wasn’t their song to sing. Here are 15 songs that ended up in the right hands… eventually.

“Umbrella” – Rihanna
Originally pitched to Britney Spears, the stormy smash didn’t fit into her Blackout forecast. Rihanna caught it like lightning in a bottle—and the rest is reign.

“Rock Your Body” – Justin Timberlake
Michael Jackson passed on this Neptunes bop, leaving JT to claim it for his solo debut. Good thing, too—it became one of his signature body movers.

“Happy” – Pharrell Williams
CeeLo Green had it, loved it, recorded it… but the label shelved it in favor of a Christmas album. Pharrell gave it a second chance—and suddenly, everyone was clapping along if they felt like a room without a roof.

“I’m a Slave 4 U” – Britney Spears
Written for Janet Jackson, this track had sultry, slinky vibes to spare. When Janet passed, Britney slithered in and delivered one of her most iconic reinventions.

“Don’t Cha” – The Pussycat Dolls
Before it became the ultimate “shoulda woulda coulda” anthem, this track went through Tori Alamaze and even Paris Hilton. But it took the Dolls to make it purr.

“Since U Been Gone” – Kelly Clarkson
P!nk said no. Hilary Duff couldn’t hit the notes. But Kelly Clarkson? She turned it into the scream-along anthem of the decade.

“Whataya Want from Me” – Adam Lambert
P!nk helped write it, recorded a demo, and passed. Adam Lambert took that heartbreak and ran with it—eyeliner, octave leaps, and all.

“Call Me” – Blondie
Pitched to everyone from the Rolling Stones to… just about anyone with a mic. Blondie made it their own—and turned a call-in jingle into a rock ‘n’ roll roar.

“…Baby One More Time” – Britney Spears
TLC thought the lyrics were a little too… punchy. Robyn declined too. Britney took it, flipped it, and danced her way into pop immortality.

“Irreplaceable” – Beyoncé
Ne-Yo originally imagined a country tune, possibly for Shania Twain. Instead, Beyoncé took it—and showed us all how to pack up our boxes to the left.

“Telephone” – Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé
Written by Gaga for Britney Spears, who actually recorded a version (!) but never released it. Gaga rang up Queen Bey instead—and the result was pure pop power.

“Love Me Like You Do” – Ellie Goulding
Swedish songwriters pitched it to Tove Lo first. But it landed in Ellie’s lap—and just in time for Fifty Shades of Grey to sound way more emotionally epic.

“Let’s Get Loud” – Jennifer Lopez
Gloria Estefan co-wrote it but thought it echoed too much of her past work. J.Lo turned up the volume and the salsa—and boom, dancefloor dynamite.

“All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor
Meghan Trainor wrote it and offered it to Beyoncé and Adele, who both passed. So she sang it herself—and the world finally got a pop hit with a retro bounce and body-positive punch.

“Boom Clap” – Charli XCX
Meant for Hilary Duff’s comeback album, but her team declined. Charli XCX took it to the silver screen, and it exploded louder than a YA love story in a summer blockbuster.

To the artists who turned these songs down: your instincts weren’t wrong—just early. And to the artists who said yes: you turned a maybe into magic. That’s the fun of music. You never know where a song will land.





Darcus Beese Shares Powerful Music Memoir ‘Rebel With A Cause,’ Charting His Journey From Fulham to Island Records

Eric Alper
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Darcus Beese Shares Powerful Music Memoir ‘Rebel With A Cause,’ Charting His Journey From Fulham to Island Records

The must-read memoir from Darcus Beese – the first black president of Island Records and one of the greatest A&Rs of his generation. From growing up as a teenager on the streets of West London to running one of the biggest record labels in the world in New York – this is a truly remarkable rags to riches tale.

Rebel With a Cause is the story of how a teenage apprentice hairdresser from Fulham worked his way up from teaboy to head one of the UK’s biggest and most successful record labels, Island Records, signing and nurturing some of the greatest artists of the twenty-first century – from Amy Winehouse and Jessie J to U2 and Florence and the Machine.

But this is also the story of a young man raised in musically fertile and politically febrile times. His activist parents Darcus Howe and Barbara Beese were tireless campaigners for racial equality at a time when racism was rife, not only on the streets, in schools and on the terraces, but also in the highest institutions of power. Fighting for equality – for himself and for his artists – has therefore been a key part of Darcus’s life.

This is the incredible tale of an indomitable leader, an industry pioneer and rebel with a true cause.

Cornbread Harris’s Life and Legacy Explored in Andrea Swensson’s ‘Deeper Blues’

Eric Alper
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Cornbread Harris’s Life and Legacy Explored in Andrea Swensson’s ‘Deeper Blues’

The emotional, epic story of James “Cornbread” Harris—a self-proclaimed “blessed dude” and one of Minneapolis’s most influential musicians

From the heart of the Minnesota blues comes the story of James “Cornbread” Harris Jr., the songwriter, pianist, and consummate bluesman whose seventy years making music helped to shape the Minneapolis Sound. “I am a blessed dude,” Cornbread tells Andrea Swensson, taking us along on his musical journey from a first “gig” entertaining his fellow soldiers during World War II to his subsequent years playing music for audiences across Minnesota. Following Cornbread’s extraordinary life story, Deeper Blues is a unique history of Minnesota music that evolves into a heartfelt tale of reconciliation and forgiveness, all to the tune of the legendary musician’s signature sound.

Cornbread’s career started in the 1950s, when he played with the Augie Garcia Quintet and cowrote their hit “Hi Ho Silver.” A tireless entertainer, he has been performing live ever since, influencing an entire generation of musicians credited with putting Minneapolis on the map in the 1980s—including his long-estranged son, Grammy-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James “Jimmy Jam” Harris III. Going beyond the music, Deeper Blues turns toward family, atonement, and peace when Cornbread reunites with Jimmy Jam after a five-decade separation and they perform together on stage.

Through conversations with Cornbread, Jimmy Jam, and many others, Swensson reveals a story of perseverance and unfailing grace, a firsthand account of making music in the face of racism and segregation, and a hard-won acceptance of the personal sacrifices that are often required when dedicating one’s life to making music. As the man himself says, “All of my hardships ended up to be blessings.”

A rich mix of present-day anecdotes and historical vignettes, animated by voices from Cornbread’s life and the Twin Cities music scene, underscored by the bluesman’s original lyrics of heartache and hope, and featuring never-before-seen photographs of Cornbread and Jimmy Jam, Deeper Blues tells a singular story—one imprinted on the history, heart, and soul of the Minneapolis Sound.

The LOX Bring Strings And Soul To Tiny Desk With Live Band Debut

Eric Alper
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The LOX Bring Strings And Soul To Tiny Desk With Live Band Debut

Remember when The LOX said “We Gonna Make It”? They made it to NPR’s Tiny Desk—with a full band and strings! Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch traded turntables for violins and brought gritty street anthems to a whole new level of elegance. Hip-hop has never sounded so classy.












Darius and Catherine Brubeck Chronicle Jazz, Resistance, and Education in ‘Playing The Changes’ Book

Eric Alper
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Darius and Catherine Brubeck Chronicle Jazz, Resistance, and Education in ‘Playing The Changes’ Book

Catherine and Darius Brubeck’s 1983 move to South Africa launched them on a journey that helped transform jazz education. Blending biography with storytelling, the pair recount their time at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where they built a pioneering academic program in jazz music and managed and organized bands, concerts, and tours around the world.

The Brubecks and the musicians faced innumerable obstacles, from the intensification of apartheid and a lack of resources to the hardscrabble lives that forced even the most talented artists to the margins. Building a program grounded in multi-culturalism, Catherine and Darius encouraged black and white musicians to explore and expand the landscape of South African jazz together Their story details the sometimes wily, sometimes hilarious problem-solving necessary to move the institution forward while offering insightful portraits of South African jazz players at work, on stage, and providing a soundtrack to the freedom struggle and its aftermath.

Frank and richly detailed, Playing the Changes provides insiders’ accounts of how jazz intertwined with struggle and both expressed and resisted the bitter unfairness of apartheid-era South Africa.

Cavalera Brothers Announce ‘RETURN TO CHAOS’ Tour Celebrating 30 Years of Chaos A.D. With Slayer, Lamb of God, and More

Eric Alper
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Cavalera Brothers Announce ‘RETURN TO CHAOS’ Tour Celebrating 30 Years of Chaos A.D. With Slayer, Lamb of God, and More

The thrumming of a heartbeat announces the return of the Cavalera brothers to their most volatile recording, the carnage-driven, adrenaline-fueled onslaught that is only known as CHAOS A.D.. Just over thirty years ago Max and Iggor Cavalera took the world by storm when they released their fifth studio album upon the masses, a record that has stood the test of time through the decades.

Though the years have passed, CHAOS A.D. is as timeless and relevant as the day it was released. While wars are waged around the globe, violence is witnessed in the streets, hate and disparity are rampant in our everyday lives, albums like CHAOS A.D. are what bind us together, being a prospect of light in an otherwise bleak and corrupt world.

This September, Cavalera and crew will be embarking across the U.S. on their RETURN TO CHAOS tour, alongside other remarkable acts such as Slayer, Lamb Of God, Power Trip, Sanguisugabogg and many more purveyors of extreme metal. With the obvious success of their recent re-recordings, it is guaranteed that the Cavalera duo will be bringing their top-notch energy and proficiency to reviving CHAOS A.D. on stage. Songs like Refuse/Resist, Territory, Slave New World and Propaganda have been heralded as anthems for the underdogs, and to witness these tracks brought back to life is nothing short of a blessing. CHAOS A.D. is still regarded as one of the most influential recordings of the 90’s, garnering them Gold Record status and a benchmark in the halls of heavy metal history.

Max shouts out a rallying cry, “Tanks on the streets, confronting police, bleeding the plebs!” And Iggor thunders through the drum intro to Territory like an Apache Helicopter. Silence means death! Stand on your feet! Cavalera will be bombarding the states, decimating every stage they encounter as if they were a warzone.

09/18/2025 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
09/20/2025 – Hershey, PA @ Hershey Park Stadium
09/21/2025 – Liverpool, NY @ Sharkey’s Event Center
09/23/2025 – Norwalk, CT @ District Music Hall
09/25/2025 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere’s Entertainment Center
09/26/2025 – Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
09/27/2025 – Hammond, IN @ Horseshoe
09/28/2025 – St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag
10/01/2025 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
10/02/2025 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
10/05/2025 – Sacramento, CA @ House of Blues
10/07/2025 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
10/10/2025 – Las Vegas, NH @ House of Blues
10/11/2025 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
10/12/2025 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
10/16/2025 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
10/17/2025 – Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live
10/18/2025 – Dallas, TX @ Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ

40 Cycle Hum Roar Back With New Single “Rise Up” and Chart-Topping Momentum

Eric Alper
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40 Cycle Hum Roar Back With New Single “Rise Up” and Chart-Topping Momentum

 Heavy-hitting metal act 40 Cycle Hum released their new single, “RISE UP,” via TLG | ZOID and distributed by Virgin Music Group. The single made an immediate impact, landing in the Top 5 Most Added on the Metal Contraband chart and breaking into the Top 5 Heavy Adds in its first week of release. The song lands at #4 on Metal Contraband and #2 on the NACC Heavy Chart.

Drummer Francis Ruiz states, “‘Rise Up’ is a song about showing up every day and facing whatever life throws at you and conquering. It is a very empowering topic.” Brandon Mitchell, the band’s vocalist adds, “To quote a lyric from ‘Rise Up’ ‘We’ve waited long enough, gotta get it out, let it out’.”

In a world overwhelmed with musical diversity, ideology and artistic bias, it can sometimes be a daunting task seeking out those talents truly worthy of praise. Let’s face it – everyone is aware that it should all be about the music, but in a society that thrives on social media influencers, overblown pop star frenzies dictating everything and force feeding social & corporate money making gimmicks, the music has regrettably taken a back seat. Still there are those few uncompromising musicians scattered among us that prefer to rely on good old-fashioned brow-beating hard work rather than succumb to the prefabricated mainstream success that is so prevalent in today’s modern musical arena.

Enter 40 Cycle Hum, whose genuine approach to writing and performing is sure to cause fans and industry types everywhere to stand up and take notice. This latest powerhouse offering boasts a massive punch and will no doubt have even the most docile fans throwing their fists to the air. Produced and engineered by Stevo Bruno (Five Finger Death Punch, Motley Crue, Prong), and mastered by the late great George Marino of Sterling Sound. The album features 12 scorching tracks including “Seven Stitches”, “Rise Up”, and more. In addition the CD is packaged with original artwork by famed horror director Clive Barker (Hellraiser, Lords of Illusion, Gods & Monsters). 40 CYCLE HUM is the long awaited triumphant follow-up to the band’s 2006 debut, Secret Skin!

The band’s inception featured Singer/Frontman/Guitarist Brandon Mitchell, Guitarist Rocky George (of Suicidal Tendencies/ Infections Grooves), Bassist Mike Duda (of W.A.S.P., and Drummer Francis Ruiz (Buckcherry) who were involved in much of shaping the band’s direction and songwriting approach. The industry would then call on Rocky George and Mike Duda to fulfill their responsibilities in their other respective bands. Mike was called back to W.A.S.P., and Rocky was called to FISHBONE.

It was at that time guitarist Mark Zavon (Kill Devil Hill), and Bassist Kenny Lefort joined the fold and began forging a new path ahead. As fate would dictate, the musical climate changed among other developments, and eventually resulted in the band members pursuing other musical endeavors.

While the guys have individually and collectively paid their dues, and have been a part of many musical collaborations and bands, the fact that what they created together is “worthy”. Worthy of being heard, shared, loved by true music fans, but also worthy of being performed and recognized along side of their established musical cohorts & peers. With the band members having remained in touch with each other and remaining active in the music world, the universe has now set the stage to allow 40 Cycle Hum to share the great music they have created!

“Music is a tough business; the cards are stacked against you before you even get started. But if you’re in it for the right reasons it becomes its own reward. We all have to pay the bills, but at the end of the day, nothing beats doing something you really love.”

Originality is a scarce thing in music anymore, although once in a while there are definitely worthwhile exceptions. 40 Cycle Hum are no different than other musicians in that the are a product of their influences, but by combining their influences, they make music that remains fresh and relevant to today’s listeners.

Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen Unleash Raw Power on New Album ‘IV’ and Kick Off Summer Tour June 11

Eric Alper
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Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen Unleash Raw Power on New Album ‘IV’ and Kick Off Summer Tour June 11

Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen have shared a visualizer video for their brand new fourth album IV, as the supercharged, dirty blues-influenced rockers gear up for summer tour dates launching this Wednesday, June 11.

IV is a raw, unapologetic, Blues-Rock Master course from the group-DOUGLAS, drummer Tommy Smallcomb and bassist Matt Gabriel. It is a powerhouse album drenched in whiskey-soaked riffs and soaring Rock n’ Roll vocals that once again display DOUGLAS’ meteoric rise as one of the heaviest hitters in the Blues-Rock world. The album was recorded at Eight Days a Week Studios in Northumberland, PA by Paul Smith (Badlees), who engineered and co-produced the album with DOUGLAS. It was mixed and mastered by Nick Coyle (Lifer, Drama Club, Death Valley Dreams).

IV is already generating critical praise: ROCK AND BLUES MUSE: “From the opening ear-splitting riffs, and Douglas’s Steve Marriott (Humble Pie)-like vocals, the trio’s runaway freight train approach is on full display…[it’s] an album filled with blistering guitar riffs and solos…cutting loose, Douglas’s guitar and this trio along with Smith, eviscerate boundaries with fine-tuned skill. Brace yourself. There is no sugar coating and you won’t find the slimmest taste of honey on the album. This is blues-rock, 21st Century style, an exhilarating ride, delivered by one of today’s fastest rising power trios, Dustin Douglas and the Electric Gentlemen.” (5-29-25)

TINNITIST: “From the southern rock stomp of ‘Long Gone,’ the sleazy, ’70s growl of ‘Dangerous Game,’ the Tom Petty-inspired ‘Drunk And Alone’ and the David Gilmour-meets-Jimmy Page fretwork of ‘Missin’ You,’ the nine tracks on IV bleed with passion and pain while burning with a fire of Douglas’s signature guitar sound and The Electric Gentlemen’s thunderous supporting rhythm. IV is a testament to the unrelenting spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.” (6-1-25)

Prior to the album’s release, the group-known for a heavy dose of swagger, groove, and rock ‘n’ roll attitude both on stage and in the studio-released three singles/videos: the current “Drunk and Alone,” “Dangerous Game,” and “Damage.” For the bracing “Drunk and Alone,” the ferocious singer, songwriter, and guitarist and his band teamed up with his friend, director Nyke Van Wyk, for the gritty, moving clip which DOUGLAS reveals is autobiographical. “This one is extremely personal for me. It’s one of those songs where I was reluctant to even put it on the record due to the vulnerability of it all.” DUSTIN reveals more about “Drunk and Alone” at antiMusic.

IV marks the follow-up album to DDEG’s 2023 release, BLACK LEATHER BLUES. They’ve been nominated and won numerous awards including Steamtown Music Awards (Scranton, PA), Central Penn-sylvania Music Awards, Independent Blues Music Awards, and Blues Blast Music Awards.

The IV track list is:
1. Long Gone
2. Damage
3. Dangerous Game
4. Drunk and Alone
5. Satisfied
6. Please and Thank You
7. Every Dog Has His Day
8. Give It To Me Straight
9. Missin’ You

DUSTIN DOUGLAS & THE ELECTRIC GENTLEMEN’s tour dates are:

Jun 11 Wed – Henderson, KY – W.C. Handy Music Festival 2025
Jun 27 Fri – Plains, PA – River Street Jazz Cafe – Album Release Event
Jun 28 Sat – Middletown, PA – The Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey
Jul 11 Fri – Scranton, PA – The Ritz Theater
Jul 12 Sat – Wilkes-barre, PA – Breakers – Mohegan Sun Casino
Aug 6 Wed – Bethlehem, PA – Musikfest
Aug 10 Sun – Hawley, PA – Ledges Hotel
Aug 21 Thu – Wilkes-barre, PA – The Hive Taphouse – Mohegan Sun Casino
Sep 12 Fri – Evansville, IN – Mojo’s Boneyard
Sep 13 Sat – Elkhart, IN – Island Of Blues Music Festival

Pinkshift Announce New Album ‘Earthkeeper,’ Unleash Roaring New Single “Anita Ride”

Eric Alper
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Pinkshift Announce New Album ‘Earthkeeper,’ Unleash Roaring New Single “Anita Ride”

Pinkshift are thrilled to announce their new album Earthkeeper. The record arrives August 29 via Hopeless Records. The band has also shared the video for the new single “Anita Ride.” The song follows the release of “Evil Eye,” which Stereogum lauded as “fitting for these f***ed up times.” Metal Injection also celebrated the track for taking “a hard left – towards raunchy, angry metal.”

The song opens with a thesis statement: ‘I carried all this weight on my own, for so long, it became my own…It wasn’t my burden to bear I know, It wasn’t my burden to bear alone, and I carried it all the way home.'”

“It’s essentially a release, a reminder, a cathartic moment to give yourself permission to share the weight that you feel in the moments you feel heavy with grief with others and give yourself credit for everything you have done,” states singer Ashrita Kumar. “I felt like this song was a moment where we all very obviously, as a band, shed our old skin. This is the first track you hear [guitarist] Paul [Vallejo] and [drummer] Myron [Houngbedji] singing prominently on a track – we are all intentionally united. I found my roar. What made me more powerful in this moment was leaning into losing control, leaning into trusting my community, and leaning into the uncertainty and chaos that are the transitions of life.”

Kumar continues, “The second verse was inspired by Kendrick [Lamar] for me. I wanted to channel the way that he talks to his higher self in his greatest moment of self-doubt, because self-doubt is the enemy of creativity. The feeling that I have less is the enemy of my prosperity.’

“I hear your voice” -become divine, if you never want, you’ll always have.”

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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