Wichita Pop Punk / Easycore Standouts, Stay the Course, Offer Up Another Taste of What to Expect from the Band’s Upcoming New Album with Soon-to-Be Hit, “Pastel,” Out Now on Punkerton Records
Photo: Katherine Jean
With “Pastel,” Wichita’s Stay The Course delivers an extremely emotional performance with driving beats, chunky guitar riffs, and lyrics that hit you right in the gut and in the heart.
“I always knew my back was against the wall but I played the game anyway” is just one of many powerful lyrics Joseph Meador and crew offer up in this cathartic, and highly intensely meaningful song. Accompanying the lyrics is music that gives you the permission to sing the choruses back to the band at the top of your lungs and just let the emotion wash over you like a cleansing baptism of self. Let your guard down, push away your doubts, and allow yourself to experience the power that is “Pastel.”
“This was the first song we fully tracked. At the start, I was nervous about the new material and honestly struggled to get motivated. One morning I just pushed myself to record vocals, and when I sat back and listened, all my doubts disappeared. That’s when I knew this record was going to be fun and that I could really try new things vocally.” – Joseph Meador (vocals)
Artist: Stay The Course
Single Title: “Pastel”
Release Date: 8/29/2025
Label: Punkerton Records
Genre: Emo, Easycore
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Release Type: Single
Format: Digital and Streaming
BAND BIO
Pop punk and easycore band Stay The Course, hailing from Kansas, brings a new feel to a classic genre. Lush with hard-edged melodic vocals, driving guitar sections, and a destructive wall of sound, their music blends energy and emotion with purpose.
Formed in 2015 by Joseph Meador, the project evolved from a solo effort into a full band defined by high-energy riffs and heartfelt songwriting. After years of growth and a string of singles, they signed with Punkerton Records in March 2025. Their upcoming album RED FLAG is set to release later this year.
Stream here: https://ffm.to/staythecourse_pastel
Follow Stay The Course
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4wu1yF2Kk6kOXPrKWPPUCL
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/stay-the-course/1120897636
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staythecourseks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stcpunk
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Stcpunk
Punkerton Artist Page: https://punkertonrecords.com/pages/stay-the-course
