Make It Shine releases their new track "Something_kept_me_low", showing that evolution is the key to survival of creative change. From the moment it starts, it's obvious this is not the same pop-punk trio that once reigned over Brittany's low-key stages as Jet Teens. Guitars between Justin, Illies, and Tom have been exchanged for a hybrid soundscape that blends metal riffs with sparkling electronic textures of synthesizers and pulsating pads.
The song has a heavy, immersive mood. Gritty guitar lines slice through murky electronic textures, and the tension, never overproduced, is palpable. There's a striking quality to the way the trio fuses analog aggression with digital nuance, imparting upon the listener a sense of strutting through neon-lit streets at midnight, every beat thudding like a city that never sleeps. Vocals bob above this hybrid chaos, which is eerie and commanding in equal measure, suggesting the personal intensity behind the track's name.
And what's most fascinating is how the Jet Teens' experience informs this latest chapter in Make It Shine. Six years of live shows have sharpened their timing, energy, and understanding of an audience, yet here they turn their experience into something more introspective and genre-defying. They are no longer a power trio, they're architects of sound, building layers that command attention while never abandoning the thrillingly primal essence of rock.
"Something_kept_me_low" isn't just a song, it's an announcement. Make It Shine will not be confined to one lane. For this track, they shine a light on what's hidden away beneath the floorboards and invite listeners to face the shadows as we dance to our own beat. If the trajectory of MKTSHN thus far is anything to judge by, then the future of rock is very much in safe hands.