The pop-punk duo West Friends (Jordan Renshaw and Isaiah Dominguez) delivers a poignant sophomore single with “Ruminate”, blending early-2000s emo sensibility with modern alternative rock urgency. Engineered by Tom Iannello (Transit, Driveways), the track arrives as a therapeutic counter-narrative to quick-fix mental health solutions, offering instead an ode to patient companionship.
From its nostalgic, clean-toned guitar intro, the song builds deliberately into a cathartic, harmony-rich chorus that recalls Yellowcard’s melodic earnestness and The Story So Far’s emotional intensity.
Dominguez’s industry-honed songcraft (shaped by collaborations with All Time Low’s Rian Dawson) and Renshaw’s multi-instrumental precision create a sound that’s both polished and raw—like a late-night conversation that starts casual but cuts deep. The production balances pop-punk’s trademark energy with ballad-like sincerity, making it equally suited for headphone introspection and festival-stage catharsis.
As the second single from their upcoming debut Junk Drawer (June 2025), “Ruminate” solidifies West Friends as more than revivalists—they’re empathy-first storytellers for a generation that values vulnerability as much as vigor.
A compelling evolution of pop-punk’s emotional vocabulary. West Friends don’t just wear their influences—they expand them.
