We Speak Music

The Refusers Ignite a Call for Rebellion with Explosive New Single “Buck The System” (Out July 5)

Published

3 months ago

June 9, 2026

Seattle rock outfit delivers a blistering anthem for a generation frustrated by political dysfunction, economic inequality, and technological disruption

SEATTLE, WA – The Refusers are turning up the volume on resistance with the release of their powerful new single, “Buck The System,” the title track from their upcoming 14-song album of the same name. Fueled by raw punk energy, searing guitars, and unapologetic lyrics, the song captures the growing frustration of everyday people who feel abandoned by political institutions, threatened by economic uncertainty, and marginalized by powerful elites.

What began as a simple song title scribbled on a sheet of paper quickly evolved into the centerpiece of the band’s most ambitious project to date. For songwriter and frontman Michael Belkin, “Buck The System” represents a sentiment shared by millions worldwide.

“People are tired of being ignored, manipulated, and left behind,” says Belkin. “Whether it’s politicians breaking promises, corporations replacing workers with AI, or billionaires gaining more power while ordinary people struggle, there’s a growing feeling that the system no longer serves the people. ‘Buck The System’ is about standing up, pushing back, and reclaiming your voice.”

The track taps into the rich tradition of protest music pioneered by artists such as Bob Marley, Rage Against the Machine, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Public Enemy, and The Clash. With driving Gibson Les Paul guitars, roaring Marshall amplifiers, and the unmistakable punch of a Hammond B3 organ, The Refusers deliver a modern protest anthem with a classic punk-rock spirit.

The song’s defiant chorus leaves no room for ambiguity:

“We won’t kneel, we won’t break. Every chain we’re gonna shake. Rise above and take it back. No retreat, no turning back.”

As the track builds, the band issues an unmistakable call to action:

“One by one we flood the streets. A million fists, a million beats. They can build their walls up high. We will tear them from the sky.”

Recorded during an intense two-week studio session, “Buck The System” is one of fourteen hard-hitting tracks featured on the forthcoming album. Other standout songs include “Fat Cats,” “Get Off My Back,” “Don’t Tread on Me,” “Deep State,” “Rise Above,” and “Conspiracy Theory,” each tackling themes of power, corruption, media influence, and personal freedom.

Far from promoting any specific political ideology, The Refusers channel a broader spirit of popular resistance against entrenched systems of power. Their music speaks to listeners across the political spectrum who feel disconnected from institutions that no longer represent their interests.

The Refusers have built a passionate following of more than 228,000 Facebook fans by refusing to shy away from controversial topics and delivering music with a message. Their trademark sound combines heavy rock guitar riffs, driving rhythms, Hammond organ textures, and provocative lyrics that challenge listeners to question conventional narratives.

Belkin draws inspiration from his experiences navigating corporate and institutional environments, carrying forward a philosophy he embraced while attending UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business: “Question the Status Quo.” That principle remains at the heart of The Refusers’ music and mission.

Hailing from Seattle, The Refusers feature:

Michael Belkin – Songwriter, Lead Vocals, Guitar
Steve Newton – Bass, Backing Vocals
Tom Basher – Drums
Jordan Pitre – Hammond Organ

At a time when public dissatisfaction with politics, economic inequality, and global conflict continues to grow, The Refusers have crafted a soundtrack for those unwilling to remain silent.

With “Buck The System,” the band delivers more than just another rock song—they deliver a rallying cry for anyone ready to challenge the status quo.

“Buck The System” will be available on all major streaming platforms on July 5.

About The Refusers

The Refusers are a Seattle-based rock band known for their unapologetic blend of hard rock, punk attitude, and socially conscious songwriting. Combining Les Paul guitars, Marshall amplifiers, Hammond B3 organ, and fearless lyrical commentary, The Refusers create music that challenges conventional thinking while delivering high-energy performances. Their upcoming album, Buck The System, continues the band’s mission of speaking truth to power through music.

We Speak Music

Phoebe June Traces Love, Distance and Heartbreak on New EP ‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2026

Joni Jones

For Phoebe June, some stories are easier to tell through music.

Her new EP, ‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’, is an intimate collection that traces the emotional journey of a relationship from the exhilaration of falling in love to distance, uncertainty, heartbreak and, ultimately, learning to let go.

Inspired by artists including Gracie Abrams, Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers, Phoebe June combines diary-like lyricism with melancholic ballads, subtle uptempo moments and an understated, emotionally honest production style.

At the centre of the project is ‘Thursday’, a bittersweet track about loving someone from a distance and holding onto the hope that the connection might survive.

Written after Phoebe left a country that held deep personal meaning, and left someone she cared about behind, the song looks back at the relationship from its beginning. Even its title is personal: the two first met on a Thursday.

The song captures the complicated feeling of walking away from something meaningful without believing that it necessarily has to be over. It’s about distance, memory and the possibility of finding your way back to someone, while recognising that hope only works when it goes both ways.

Across six tracks, the EP develops that story in sequence.

‘Everything You Are’ opens the project with the warmth of new love, while ‘Dead Sea’ explores the security of finding someone who helps you stay afloat through difficult times. As the story progresses, ‘Thursday’ introduces separation before ‘Getaway Car’ moves into the aftermath; unanswered questions, lingering attachment and the realisation that someone can profoundly affect your life while still being unhealthy for you.

‘One Day’ leaves the door open to the possibility of a future reunion, balancing hope with the understanding that some relationships may only exist in memory.

The EP closes with ‘Ophelia’, its emotional breaking point. Inspired in part by Friedrich Heyser’s painting of the same name, the track confronts the pain of feeling manipulated and unappreciated after giving everything to someone else.

The result is a project that deliberately moves from light to dark. Phoebe June considered not only the narrative but the emotional progression when sequencing the EP, allowing the brightness of its opening to gradually give way to the heartbreak of its closing moments.

Even the title reflects that feeling.

‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’ takes its name from a flower, with the image of a gate separating two people becoming a metaphor for a love that remains beautiful but just out of reach. To reach over it requires effort, just as maintaining a connection across distance, uncertainty and changing circumstances does.

Ultimately, Phoebe June isn’t interested in simply documenting her own heartbreak.

She wants listeners to recognise themselves in it.

‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’ is a collection about love, nostalgia, hope and regret and about what remains when something beautiful ends up on the other side of the gate.