Well Wisher - "Panic"
Photo by Okie Dokie Studio
New Jersey's Well Wisher have crafted an indie pop punk song that is both pop and punk, but just has a little something that keeps it rising above most other songs in that genre. "Panic" is somehow both more punk and pop than most pop punk tends to be. It starts off like a downtempo pop rock song, and slowly the pop punk side of things starts to poke its head out. While Natalie Newbold's vocals lean towards pop, musically "Panic" has just enough of an edge to keep the song in the rock side of things. Once the song hits the breakdown, it pauses just before erupting into an emotional and noisy burst. It's not quite noise rock, but it's at least noise rock adjacent. Most pop punk doesn't look to expand past the typical, so it's thrilling to find a band like Well Wisher.
Natalie Newbold says of the band's new song:
"One of the first songs on the new LP that we all loved and sort of used as a guiding light for the rest of the album was 'Panic'. There was a special connection to it that melded all of our influences flawlessly, and we have a blast playing it together. The song explores the roller-coastering struggles with mental health and feeling beyond drained and angry with how it can hold you back and captive. Being someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression since I was about 3- or 4-years-old made writing this one super cathartic."
You can watch the video for "Panic" below. That Weight is due out September 16 on Egghunt Records. For more on Well Wisher, check out the band's website.