Strange Pink step into their own with debut EP 'Out Of Focus'

East Yorkshire’s Strange Pink arrive with their debut EP 'Out Of Focus', a six-song collection that cements them as one of the region’s most compelling new voices in alt-rock. While their first singles 'Pencil Chewer' and 'Boys Club' hinted at promise, this release proves the trio’s ability to balance grit, melody, and reflection in equal measure. Recorded at York’s Young Thugs studio with Nick ‘The Muscle’ Russell at the helm and given its final polish by Ed Woods, the record feels both raw and intentional, an authentic snapshot of a band finding its stride.

'Pencil Chewer' launches the EP with psych-tinged guitar lines and frenetic urgency, pulling inspiration from Shakespearean villainy to frame a story of cruelty and reckless pursuit of power. It’s an unexpected but fitting opener; darkly playful, cinematic, and immediate. From there, 'Wonderland' slows the pace with hypnotic textures, its bittersweet lyricism casting a spell that draws the listener closer.

Elsewhere, Strange Pink turn their gaze outward and inward with equal force. 'My Friend and You' captures the strange aftertaste of post-lockdown life, its imagery apocalyptic yet strangely intimate, while 'Lucky Charm' digs into dissonance; both musically, with unusual tunings, and lyrically, with its restless vulnerability. 'Boys Club' emerges as a standout, taking aim at arrogance and entitlement with guitars that snarl in true ’90s fashion, a perfect fusion of American grunge muscle and British emotional weight. Closing track 'Nowhere' pulls everything together in widescreen, its expansive arrangement carrying a sense of catharsis that lingers after the final note fades.

At the heart of the record is the chemistry between Sam Forrest, Eddie Alan Logie, and Dom Smith. Forrest’s pedigree (Nine Black Alps, Sewage Farm) brings seasoned songwriting, while Logie and Smith inject raw vitality shaped by their years in York’s underground. Smith’s presence in particular is striking, not only for his muscular drumming but for his journey as a musician navigating cerebral palsy, defying barriers with determination and creativity. His story lends even more weight to a project already brimming with purpose.

'Out Of Focus' is a statement of intent. Strange Pink aren’t polishing themselves for mainstream palatability; instead, they lean into the messiness of life, channelling it through serrated guitars and lyrics that probe at vulnerability, anger, and yearning. It’s a record that will resonate with fans of Sonic Youth, Built to Spill, and anyone searching for a band unafraid to sound both defiant and human.