We Speak Indie Artist
Ten Hawkins Reveals Phenomenal New Single “Pump 3”
Ten Hawkins, the gifted rising artist hailing from Saluda, South Carolina, has dropped his electrifying new single, “Pump 3”. This track is a tantalising glimpse into his forthcoming album, The Manuel Garcia Chronicles, scheduled for release this November.
Ten has been immersed in music his whole life. From jamming to iconic artists like 69 Boyz, Uncle Luke, R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, 2Pac, Biggie and DMX with his mother as a toddler, to crafting his own rap verses in the third grade, Ten’s journey through the world of music has been marked by dedication and an unyielding desire to contribute to the culture he loves.
With a musical evolution that has spanned several projects, including Too Busy Standing Out (2014), Unwanted Melodies (2015) and Heart Collage (2017), Ten Hawkins has consistently pushed the boundaries of his artistry. His 2019 release, Inspired By You, delved deep into themes of betrayal, heartache, love and new beginnings, showcasing the artist’s growth and introspective songwriting.
Now, after a brief hiatus, Ten Hawkins returns with “Pump 3”, a track that embodies his artistic evolution and sets the stage for his upcoming album. Describing the single, Ten reveals, “This song is an escape for me. I’m constantly reflecting on the past and how it could have been different if I made different choices. But also I always feel like I bear the weight of the world on my shoulders because so many people look up to me and depend on me. So, this record represents my escape – putting 20 dollars on in my gas tank and letting it take me as far away as possible from everything that’s going on in life so I can breathe.”
The creation of “Pump 3” was a collaborative effort, with Ten Hawkins partnering with producer Sean J (Sean James) to bring the song to life. The song’s chorus was originally penned in 2019 to a different instrumental, but it wasn’t until earlier this year that the pieces fell into place. Speaking about the process, Ten shares, “Early this year I was playing it for my producer Sean J and got excited about the feel of the record and asked if he remade the beat for it, would I finish it, and I agreed. He made the beat in about 30 mins, and within an hour and a half, we had a rough version of the whole song completed.”
With its infectious beats, introspective lyrics and Ten Hawkins’ signature storytelling, “Pump 3” is a standout addition to his discography. Fans of his work can expect more of this compelling storytelling and musical growth on his upcoming album. “Pump 3” is available to buy/stream now on all platforms.
Keep up to date with the latest from Ten Hawkins:
There’s a particular kind of hunger that defines a band on the verge — that combustible mix of raw talent, hard-won momentum, and the unmistakable sense that everything they’ve been building is about to break wide open. The Chads, the pop-punk-ska fireballers out of Sayville, New York, have that hunger in abundance. And in 2026, they are ready to feed it.
The foundation is already in place. The four-piece — Joy, Mike, Mark, and Santino — spent the past year stacking wins that most bands spend a decade chasing. They took home the WEHM Battle of the Bands, earned a coveted spot on the Jumbalaya Stage at the Great South Bay Music Festival, and walked into a WPIX Morning Show segment that put their faces and their music in front of a New York City-wide audience. For a band still in the early stages of their career, it is a résumé that commands attention.
Their debut single “The Neighbors” — a razor-sharp, high-energy pop-punk-ska hybrid pulled straight from a true story of Long Island life — announced their arrival with a wink and a riff. Tongue-in-cheek in tone but tight as a drum in execution, the song showcases exactly what makes The Chads stand out in a crowded regional scene: they can make you laugh and make you move at the same time, which is a far rarer skill than it sounds. The track is available on Spotify and has been making steady inroads on radio, building the kind of organic buzz that no marketing budget can manufacture.
Now comes the next chapter. The Chads are heading into Dream Studios with producer Jason Mekler to record their new EP — a project that represents the most significant creative investment of their career to date. Mekler’s production experience combined with the band’s live-honed instincts makes for a pairing with serious promise. If “The Neighbors” was the introduction, the EP is the statement — the recorded proof that what audiences have been experiencing in clubs and on festival stages across Long Island translates just as powerfully through speakers.
The tri-state area has been the proving ground. The world is next.
Pop-punk has always thrived on authenticity — on bands that sound like they mean it, that write songs about real places and real people and real absurdities of everyday life.
The Chads check every one of those boxes. They are a Long Island band in the truest sense: specific enough to feel genuine, relatable enough to travel far beyond the island that made them.
Watch for the EP. Watch for the tour dates. Watch for the name.
The Chads are coming — and they are bringing Sayville with them.
Watch The Chads “MFH” music video on youtube here:
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