Baltimore pop-punkers Pinkshift are on a seriously prolific run right now. Following the release of their album Earthkeeper last August and the subsequent single “Snow,” the band has returned with a new track titled “When We Were Friends.” The song serves as a pogo-ready anthem that tackles the nuanced, often painful reality of post-breakup clarity.
This song was just called “Friends” for the longest time. It’s a story about getting kicked to the curb when there was a new relationship in my friend’s life. I wanted to share a story about how valuable friendship is, even though we might take friendships for granted. It’s easy to fall into the trap of watering romantic relationships that are exciting and new and leaving your friends out to dry, assuming that friends will always be there. But your friends who have been there with you through everything deserve the same love, attention, and care you would give someone new.
The track captures the specific, relatable sting of watching a best friend prioritize a new romantic partner, effectively sidelining long-standing platonic bonds. It is a sentiment that resonates deeply, echoing the universal experience of navigating shifting social dynamics as we grow older.
The band, led by Ashrita Kumar, also unveiled a vibrant music video for the single. The visual captures Kumar navigating a difficult day, finding solace in the company of her bandmates and the familiar, ambient energy of Baltimore. The clip also features live footage from the band’s performance at the Inner Harbor last year.
In addition to the new music, Pinkshift has announced a string of upcoming UK tour dates alongside Heart Attack Man. The tour will see the band hitting several major cities, including Manchester, London, and Brighton, before concluding their run in New York this August.
Tour Dates:
6/19 – Gilbert, PA @ Camp Punksylvania 2026
7/08 – Manchester, UK @ Rebellion *
7/09 – Birmingham, UK @ The Flapper *
7/10 – Withington, UK @ 2000trees 2026
7/12 – Southampton, UK @ Heartbreakers *
7/14 – Brighton, UK @ The Hope & Ruin *
7/16 – London, UK @ Signature Brew Blackhorse Road *
8/01 – New York, NY @ Maker Park ^
* with Heart Attack Man
^ with Fishbone & Cat Crash
