NYC angular/indie outfit STRIPES share single ‘Forever, It Won’t Change’
Stripes’ latest single “Forever, It Won’t Change” flirts with pop while packing a punk-esque aggression. The verses feature guitars that teeter back and forth on an edge, threatening to tear the song apart before it erupts into an effervescent chorus. The vocals hit with a desperate intensity, grabbing you by the collar of your shirt, lamenting, 'I don't want to fucking change.'
The cover features Luna, a beloved canine friend of Stripes. “She embodies the yearning of the track; she’s an intensely emotional dog,” says singer Izzy MK. Drummer Dave Possehl adds, 'We yearn for love and security in the same way a dog yearns for a tennis ball.'
“Forever, It Won’t Change” is Stripes’s third single of the year, and they're not showing any signs of letting up. This year, the band has solidified their jangular (jangle + angular) punk sound with a new lineup and a renewed emphasis on energetic and tight live performances. Embarking on their second US tour this December, they are an upcoming act you won’t want to miss.
Band BIO
Brooklyn-based band Stripes embodies bleeding raw indie-rock. Melodic almost angular harmonies are matched with an equally explosive live performance.
Stripes has a distinctive style and sound all their own, featuring tight, chugging verses that propel you to triumphant peaks of ear-worm choruses. Led by vocalist and songwriter Izzy MK, whose vocals balance power and
vulnerability, their music is as emotionally charged as it is sonically intense.
Stripes recently completed their first tour in New England and will be touring the Southwest this December. Notably returning to Izzy’s hometown of Tucson, AZ for the first time in 3 years.
♪·¯·♫¸¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸♬·¯·♩¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸♬·¯·♩¸¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸♬·¯·♩bedroom-punk, angular rock, jangle-punk, lo-fi indie garage, fuzzy post-punk
¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸♬·¯·♩¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸♬·¯·♩¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸♬·¯·♩UP COMING Tour dates
12/4 - Phoenix, AZ @ Linger Longer Lounge
12/6 - Tucson, AZ @ Solar Culture
12/7 - San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe
12/8 - Los Angeles, CA @ FKA Church
12/10 - Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman
12/11 - Reno, NV @ Lo Bar
12/13 - Las Vegas, NV @ Hola Habibi
(VERY) Extensive hiSTory
Stripes is the musical project of Izzy MK, who’s relationship with music began in 2017 after attending her first live show. Inspired, Izzy taught herself guitar and soon began performing in Tucson, AZ, with the riot grrrl punk band The Frecks. Known for their high-energy and raw performances, The Frecks quickly gained a following in the house show and DIY scenes. Following the band’s brief run, Izzy started Stripes in 2018 with drummer Bella Crump. This new project continued the raw, emotional intensity of her previous work but with an added garage rock edge. Stripes swiftly gained local acclaim, opening for national acts like Surf Curse, The Courtneys, Wand, and Together Pangea, and drawing enthusiastic crowds with their raw and explosive live shows. In 2019, Stripes released their debut album, 520, a tribute to Tucson’s area code. Recorded live on tape, the album captured the unfiltered essence of the band’s sound and was released on cassette by Burger Records just before the label’s dissolution. Tracks “Fuckin’ Normie” and “Poison” became local hits, solidifying Stripes’ place in the Tucson music scene. The band continued to build momentum through 2019 and 2020, touring regionally across the Southwest.
The arrival of the pandemic in 2020, coupled with personal and artistic upheaval, marked a challenging period for Stripes. In 2021, as venues reopened, Izzy and Bella continued to perform at DIY spaces, recording their album How Should I Know? at home. The record, with Izzy handling guitar, bass, and production, reflects the emotional duality of the pandemic’s constraints and the band's earlier successes.
During the pandemic, Izzy also collaborated with Kevin Dickey of Pebble Napkins to release the EP Harming. The EP blended Stripes’ raw sound with a more polished production, featuring notable tracks like “H.A.L.T.” Izzy relocated Stripes to NYC in 2022, seeking new opportunities and bandmates. The EP It's On Me (2022) captures the emotional weight of leaving Tucson and confronting rejection, while Unanswered Questions/Unknown Motifs (2023) features darker, introspective themes. These solo EPs are in stark contrast to the full band records, but still feature Izzy’s signature writing style.
In New York, Izzy reassembled the band using Craigslist, leading to a renewed and enthusiastic lineup. The new members—Riley Morgan (guitar), Mitchell Davis (bass), and Dave Possehl (drums)—brought fresh energy to the project. Stripes’ latest singles, recorded with Ian Rose at Daisy Chain Studios, mark a return to their post-punk indie rock roots with strong melodic elements and heartfelt songwriting. The band’s live performances now radiate both the fiery spirit of their past with a more matured, determined edge.
