Two Tracks, Two Worlds: Turnstile’s Genre-Bending Return with ‘Seein’ Stars’ and ‘Birds’

Photo Credit: Alexis Gross

In case you missed it, Baltimore’s own hardcore heavyweights Turnstile are officially back—with three new singles from their upcoming album Never Enough already out, and the full release landing on June 6th.. It’s been about four years since the multi-nominated Grammy album GLOW ON dropped, and with these new tracks out in the open, it’s clear the band is continuing to lean into that hazy funk sound while staying true to their signature hardcore roots. That’s especially true with “Seein’ Stars” and “Birds.” From getting a shoutout from Charlie XCX during her Coachella set, to announcing a full-length visual film of Never Enough premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, Turnstile is shaking the grounds of the music world once again.

I’m talking about both songs together since they were released in a joint music video on April 30th—and that’s actually how I first heard them both. Now, normally, I prefer to listen to songs a few times before watching any type of visuals, but this time it just happened that way, and honestly, I have zero complaints. The video is vibrant and visually striking, with a style that echoes some of their past work—no surprise, since it was directed by their very own vocalist Brendan Yates, whose dreamy, misty-bright aesthetic also shines through in Paramore’s "This Is Why” video. And speaking of Paramore, lucky us—we get to hear Hayley Williams, as well as Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes, on background vocals in the project.

Seein’ Stars

I had to double-check that this was really Turnstile—it caught me completely off guard since the only tracks I’ve listened to before have all been hardcore ones. In “Seein’ Stars” Yates delivers some beautiful, hungering vocals, drenched in echo and reverb. I also can’t go on without mentioning the implemented vibrance from the hip-moving bassline that adds that structure between drum hits. It’s a slow-motion, funk-tinged tune that leans hard into an ’80s sound. It gives me the same feeling as when I first started listening to Tame Impala, that mixture of old school and new school, with touches of nostalgia. But let me tell you, when Pat McCrory’s guitar solo kicks in toward the middle-end, it electrifies the whole track. That solo gave me the climax I look for in every song—so nicely done. Some listeners have pointed out that the overall melody of the instrumentals sounds a lot like “When the World Is Running Down…” by The Police—and honestly, I can hear it. But does that take away from the track? Not at all! The song’s reception has been somewhat mixed, but regardless of where the majority lands, I can absolutely get down with it. It’s chill, it’s fresh, and it gives me that longing feeling for the upcoming summer nights—which made me totally unprepared for what comes next in “Birds.”

Birds

Complete 180. “Birds” kicks it into high gear—but not before a dramatically slow intro driven by drummer, Daniel Fang, with his cowbell and hi-hat. In the video, Fang is hitting that pedal so hard it’s practically running away from him. After about 43 seconds of tension, the song turns into pure adrenaline. It’s the initial riff, then boom—the full instrumentals crash in. That classic Turnstile hardcore energy is pushed to the floor, and by this point my eyes looked like two moons… I was–hyped! Needless to say, the song and the music video are in perfect sync, and all I could think was: “Man, I wish I was there.” As someone who’s been an extra in a few music videos, I was feeling seriously jealous watching this one. Nothing beats seeing people hit a two-step before launching into a front flip off stage into the crowd. Also in the video, we see the familiar face of touring guitarist Meg Mills, who officially joined the band this year (looking like an icon), and bassist Franz Lyons who is seen spawning atop the stage with a nice zoom-in shot, which people in the video comments seemed to appreciate that small detail. The song hits that raw, angsty energy I’ve been craving—especially after a wave of mellow releases from other bands. This one was a much-needed blast of intensity.

Turnstile, like any band, grows—and with growth comes change, new sounds, new formulas. Some day-one fans might feel iffy about the more chill tracks, but honestly, what’s more hardcore than a band known for pure aggression dropping dreamy, vibey hits and still making them slap? “Seein’ Stars” feels like summer nights; “Birds” feels like summer days. It’s shaping up to be an all-around Turnstile summer for me.

Baltimore folks—don’t miss the free May 10th show at Wyman Park Dell, and donate if you can; proceeds benefit healthcare for the houseless. And if you snagged tickets for the back-to-back California shows (May 15 in LA and May 16 in Oxnard), enjoy the ride. The next date with tickets still available is June 5 in Brooklyn, NY. Don’t sleep on it.

Watch the official Seein' Stars/ Birds music video ---> HERE <---