Born during the pandemic, STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD unites Japanese precision and British punk spirit, spreading a message of hope, unity, and defiance through their energetic anthems.
1. Let’s
start with the beginning — how did STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD come together during
the pandemic, and what sparked the connection between Tokyo and London?
Masasucks: We were talking about someday starting a melodic punk band that
could perform worldwide. Since we had some free time, we just came up with the
band name, and that's how it all started.
Josh: I met Masa at a music festival in Northern Japa
n in 2017 and we bonded
over punk rock, Masa has always been a big name on the Japanese scene so I knew
of him, and it was amazing to become friends. We came up with the name during
the pandemic and the first idea was to create a hardcore band writing 30 second
songs about each station on the Yamanote line in Tokyo… it then shifted to the
band today when we came up with the name, but didn’t actually start making
music until March2 025.
2. Joshua, how did you end up joining forces with some of Japan’s most
respected punk musicians? What drew you to this particular collaboration?
J: I’ve been living in Japan for 15 years and always gone to punk shows here,
making a lot of friends along the way. I have written songs for a number of
Japanese bands including Doping Panda, Dradnats, Mayson’s Party etc, helped
with vocal direction for Country Yard, a number of idol groups too and featured
on a few bands albums like Anger Flares, OWEAK. Meeting Masa was the cherry
really and it is an absolute honour to be able to make music with him, stand on
the same stage and play live.
3. Masasucks, you mentioned this release takes you back to your roots. What
elements of ‘90s punk do you think are still vital in 2025?
M: Rather than creating a melody out of anger or sorrow, I think it's more
about enjoying the sense of hope, the positive and catchy melody, and the speed
of the music together on the dance floor.
4. ‘Don’t Back Down’ feels like a pure punk anthem — bold, energetic, and
unifying. What message were you hoping to send through that track?
J: Don’t Back Down had the energy from the start, writing the lyrics came easy
feeding off the track that Masa had made. I wanted to convey what Punk Rock
means to us, that the music is for everyone, we sing together, raise our fists
together, to me the song is about standing up and fighting for what you believe
in!
5. In contrast, ‘Haunted Home’ carries a darker and more introspective tone.
What’s the story behind that song?
J: When I write lyrics it usually reflects a period of time I am going through,
the song is about a a really difficult breakup, making a hard decision but for
the overall benefit of both of us. I see my lyrics a little bit like a memory
book, every time I sing it I can focus and remember that time and put more
emotion into the song when playing it live.
6. The band’s name, STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD, already feels like a statement.
What does it represent for you personally and as a collective?
J: The name kind of goes hand in hand with Don’t Back Down, from a very young
age I have always believed in the unity and community of the punk rock scene no
matter where you are in the world. SBF is exactly that, about standing up and
moving forward.
7. Forming a new band during lockdown must have had its challenges. How did
you manage to build chemistry and momentum under those circumstances?
J: We formed the band but it was just really the band name, we would talk about
it without really making any music. We were invited to play a show in April
2025 and really it all started from there, we wrote a few songs in as many
months, asked friends to play in the band and managed to somehow do our first
show unscathed. We have gone from strength to strength from there, culminating
in the release this October and playing sold out shows in Tokyo.
8. There’s a clear sense of cross-cultural energy in your music — British
grit meets Japanese precision. How do you balance those influences when writing
and performing?
J: We joke a little that it is a Japanese/British band playing west coast
American punk. We are all influenced by similar music and I think that is all
that matters, if our own cultures shine through while playing what we want to
then that can only be a bonus.
9. You’ve already caught the attention of international media and signed
with JPU Records. How has the global response been so far?
J: We are extremely proud of what we have achieved so far, definitely has been
a bit of a whirlwind but it is amazing to see the response from around the
world. From radio plays to interviews, it is great to see that music transcends
cultures and that punk rock is still so important to so many people.
10. Tokyo’s punk scene has a strong underground tradition. How do you see
STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD fitting into or standing out from that community?
J: Our goal has always been global, being part of and starting on the Tokyo
scene is great, there’s been such a great response already from other bands and
being invited to play shows and festivals is great. We will continue to push
the scene in Tokyo and Japan, but also work to get further onto the global
stage.
11. Punk has always been about resistance, unity, and truth. What does
“punk” mean to STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD in 2025?
J: To us it really is the above, as well as community. I look at my own life
here in Japan and how I was able to integrate so easily into the punk
community. Love of the same music, having the same inspiration from bands made
conversation transcend language, if we can take that same mentality and put it
into our music to share with audiences around the world we will be doing
something right.
12. Finally, what’s next for the band? Are there plans for a full album,
more live shows, or maybe even an international tour?
J: We have a full schedule of shows across Japan until the end of 2025, our
goal next year will be to write more songs, maybe not a full album yet but an
EP release, and then hopefully some festivals around the world. I’ve never
actually played a show in London so that is top of my own list!
STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD – JPU Records
Straight Back Forward (@straight.back.forward) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
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