CELEBRATE NEW JERSEY POP-PUNK SUMMER WITH “JERSEY GIRL” BY ARCTIC WAVE

Some states produce superfans out of residents, and the Garden State is among them, blessing us with rockers like Arctic Wave. Even if you’ve never visited the Jersey Shore for the summer, “Jersey Girl” will make you feel like you have. This lighthearted homage to Arctic Wave’s hometown is short and sweet, an antithesis of classic pop-punk tropes, which is appropriate since many of the greats hail from New Jersey.

Band founder and songwriter C.L. Turner’s earnest love of his hometown is infectious. He has encapsulated the fun-loving spirit notoriously common among New Jerseyans, combining joyful exploration with poetic artistry. While “Jersey Girl” has its silly moments, it would be disingenuous to discredit Turner’s clever rhyming couplets and integration of niche references. He is a subject expert and a wordsmith—two critical components for an artist's success.

I have several friends from New Jersey (a few with their pop-punk bands) who share similar sentiments about their hometown. As a diehard San Franciscan, seeing people express their love for where they came from is incredibly moving.

Songs like “Jersey Girl” are fun and get people listening. Still, they can also serve as unifying movements, encouraging others to learn about culture through the lens of fun, Weezer-esque bangers.