Tokyo-Brit punk squad STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD drop their second single SOUVENIRS, out today via London’s JPU Records.

The track, which features guest vocals on the chorus from U-TAN, frontman of Japanese punk legends GOOD4NOTHING, delivers a rush of energy that wouldn’t feel out of place blasting from a CRT TV as you kickflip your way through a classic skateboarding game. Fast, hooky, and full of heart, it’s shaping up to be one of the most promising punk rock releases of the year.

Ahead of release, SOUVENIRS was picked up by Amazing Radio’s Pop Punk Tunes playlist, a highly curated selection where editors handpick just seven of the best pop punk tracks of the moment. The song sits alongside new anthems from the likes of Yellowcard and The Molotovs.

The momentum follows debut single DON’T BACK DOWN / HAUNTED HOME, which saw the band featured on over 100 playlists.

“SOUVENIRS is a bit of a throwback to early 2000s pop punk,” explains vocalist Josh. “Just a reminder that even pushing 40, we still feel like that nerdy teenager in love.”

“The song itself went through a lot of changes in the studio,” he adds. “It’s the first single where every part is played by a band member rather than guitarist masasucks recording the majority, so the final mix took a while to perfect. We even pushed the release date back to make sure we got it exactly right.”

U-TAN’s appearance on the track came down to a mix of coincidence and perfect timing.

“We were recording vocals in Osaka and U-TAN just happened to be hanging out at the studio,” says Josh. “With a bit of arm-twisting he jumped on the track. I’ve worked with him on writing songs for G4N before, so it felt like the right moment to collaborate.”

Bridging Tokyo and the UK, past and present, STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD tap into a shared punk muscle memory rooted in sweaty venues, scratched CDRs and good times that never really fade.

About STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD:

Formed in Tokyo in 2020, STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD is a punk rock project led by guitarist masasucks, marking a new creative challenge in his career. Raised on west side of Japan Osaka,and known for his work with FULLSCRATCH, the HIATUS, RADIOTS, J (LUNA SEA) Band, PUFFY Band, sometimes, BAD HOP Band, TEAM SHACHI, also as a producer and more, masasucks began the project alongside London-raised vocalist Josh after the two crossed paths in Tokyo. Despite coming from different backgrounds, they quickly bonded over the melodic punk rock that shaped their youth.

Even as the world was thrown into turmoil by the global pandemic, their drive remained unshaken. The name STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD reflects that mindset, standing tall and moving ahead with fearless positivity. After independently releasing their first demo in April 2024, the band drew attention from labels and media across borders, leading to releases via London’s JPU Records.