Emo Rock Artist Northbound Announces Upcoming Full-Length Album; Release Double Single Via Smartpunk Records

Ahead of the album release, the band is also debuting two singles: “Big Tune (Fuck Off Forever)” and “Science” — listen here.

That’s right — this isn’t an April Fool’s Joke! Northbound is releasing a new album this summer and is unveiling two new singles from his upcoming fourth full-length release. After touring worldwide with acts including Simple Plan, State Champs, and more, Jonathon Fraser (the man behind the moniker) is poised to share his most realized iteration of the project on Juniper, which is set to release on July 12.

Speaking about the new single “Big Tune (Fuck Off Forever),” Northbound says, “I picked ‘Big Tune’ as the first single for the record because I feel it perfectly encapsulates the vibe of the Juniper. It’s fast and doesn’t take itself too seriously. A lot of my previous work had a brooding tone, and it was important to me that this record launches from a place of empowerment and not self-pity. It’s a track mostly about dealing with the feelings that come from monetizing art, social media’s role in the music scene, and just wanting to play music. Loudly.”

When asked about “Science,” he adds, “‘Science’ is the perfect B-Side for ‘Big Tune.’ It’s not quite an antithesis to ‘Big Tune’ but it shows a much more vulnerable side to where this record goes. A lot of Juniper is about looking around and trying to find my place in the world, as an artist and human. I’m a real adult now. Who’s in my corner? What do I want for myself? Most importantly, what the fuck is going on? ‘Science’ is a good introduction to those questions.”

Speaking on the album, Northbound says “Juniper is my fourth album under the moniker of Northbound. After a few years of laying low and flying under the radar, this album is a bold statement of return. My most focused record to date, Juniper takes heavy influence from the early 2000s era of pop punk with a clear intention: to feel nostalgia for the moment you’re currently in. It’s fun to listen to, yet simultaneously invites the listener to feel things. It’s a record about change, pain, and joy. Juniper doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but it does spin it in a way that hasn’t happened for a while.”

“Some flowers never get to bloom,” a sentiment that has become all too familiar to Jonathon Fraser. For better or worse, this has fueled Northbound, the emo-tinged rock outfit born out of Boca Raton, Florida. Since 2012, Northbound has established a committed following through several releases and an extensive touring history in the U.S. and overseas. Their resume includes hitting the road with the likes of Simple Plan, State Champs, and many more of the scene’s most respected bands. Whether it’s at a house show or the 02 Forum in London, Northbound has proven capable of encapsulating nostalgia from the turn of the millennium with none of the cliches typically involved.

Throughout Northbound’s tenure, Fraser has maintained a presence in his songs that feels like an open door to his lived experiences — all bark, all bite. In early 2023, Fraser dug up his lifelong Florida roots and transplanted them to Los Angeles — with something new to prove. 

Juniper sees the project rising to new heights — with the strongest material in Northbound’s discography. The themes of the album are on full display — the mental weight that self-awareness can bring, the search for yourself in a world that often doesn’t care, and waiting for love that still hasn’t arrived. Fraser has no interest in feigning authenticity and refuses to hold back on Juniper. 

Northbound may be the alternative scene’s best-kept secret, but those who are paying attention never stop listening. Juniper and a fresh start in Los Angeles mark the beginning of a monumental shift for the trajectory of Northbound.