EP

EP: new not shameful & trust blinks. – nns / trust blinks. split

A new split from trust blinks and new not shameful released on January 28, 2025, and is comprised of six tracks – and while the EP has such a nice sense of cohesivenes, I can’t help but wish that there were more, simply because I feel as though this EP, titled nns / trust blinks. split is just that good. Sanfransisco, California-based new not shameful combines with Asheville, North Carolina-based trust blinks to create an EP that spans both a continent and a large variety of sounds and emotions. The first three tracks are from new not shameful and the last three from trust blinks, all six working together to create a beautifully nostalgic energy that is also somehow very new and contemporary and altogether completely captivating, forcing you to stop scrolling while you listen and focus all of your attention on solely nns / trust blinks. split

My favorite song from new not shameful’s set of three is “savior”, which starts out with this gorgeous baseline and guitar riff, the vocals coming in slowly and dreamily, reminding me of snowy mornings and foggy early afternoons. This track is two minutes and fifty-six seconds long, and while that might seem like an average track length, I would do anything for a longer version of “savior” – but by longer, I mean like, seven or eight minutes. This track is completely enchanting, holding this hazy energy that has the sonic equivalent of looking at a grainy polaroid from years ago, and I can’t get enough of it.

My favorite track from trust blinks is “clean plate club”, the title of which immediately grabbed my attention as it made me think of another song that I really like, “clean plate club” by TOMAGOTHCI MASSACRE and Peach Rings. These songs are very different from each other, which is obvious when you’ve heard both, but now that I’ve heard  “clean plate club” by trust blinks, I have no clue if the version by TOMAGOTHCI MASSACRE and Peach Rings will remain my favorite song by this name. This track has that same captivating nostalgic quality to it, a beautiful guitar riff dominating the instrumentals in a way that leaves one almost enchanted and drawn in to the music. The vocals have that dreamy, hazy quality to them that I can never get enough of, and I have the same problem with this track that I have with new not shameful’s “savior” – I want eight minutes of it!  Altogether, the split by new not shameful and trust blinks is a nostalgic yet modern EP split that is a wonderful release from two very talented DIY bands – but it’s also this gorgeous and enthralling work of art that forces me to stop what I’m doing and just listen. There’s not a lot of music that truly holds me in this way, and nns / trust blinks. split did just that. If you feel drawn to nostalgia, dreamy vocals, and really, really nice guitar riffs, I think you’ll like nns / trust blinks. split as much as I did.

Written by Valor