By Staff | January 26, 2026

Panic Sets In is a Philadelphia-based band that blends infectious pop-punk hooks with metal-influenced percussion and intricate bass lines to create a sound that is both nostalgic and fresh. Deeply rooted in the Philly scene, the band’s identity and lyrics are heavily influenced by the city, often exploring mature themes like modern American struggles and mental survival rather than typical tropes of young love. After a transformative hiatus and a lineup change that significantly boosted their creative productivity and morale, the group transitioned from recording in local basements to working at professional studios like Thornwall Studios. Recognized as 93.3 WMMR’s Local Shots Artist of the Month, the band is currently building momentum toward a sophomore album expected in 2026, characterized by organic collaboration and a focus on relatable bangers.

Welcome! Philadelphia has a legendary punk and emo history. How has being based in the Philly scene shaped the band’s identity and sound compared to when you first started?

Devon Kelly, lead vocals: Oddly enough, I’d never been in a band before Panic. I had a solo project in the works, and tons of songs/lyrics/concepts waiting to have their moments. My dad grew up in Collingswood, NJ, but his love for Philly was a huge part of his life, and inevitably mine. He was one of the most passionate Philly sports fans I’ve ever known, but his second love was music. He taught me so much about it. I was exposed to genres I never would have explored otherwise. I came to appreciate the Philly venues, museums, stadiums, and overall history in an almost fundamental way. There’s just something about this city, and if you get it, you get it.

I ended up moving to the city in 2016. I was working at iHeart Radio where I worked behind the scenes of the music world. I was learning more and more about being a brand new adult and what it takes to be independent in a major city. There’s no city I’d rather call home. My writing turned from topics of young love and heartbreak to ones of modern struggles of the average American, along with commentary on the state of the world.

When I joined Panic, I learned the songs that were already written and established. Slowly we worked through those songs and started writing new material in which I was able to let my lyrical abilities shine. Philly-living is a big part of the themes of my lyrics. I have written about the environments I experienced, (good and bad,) the relationships I had/have, and the constant fight for monetary and mental survival.

With my bandmates’ innate abilities to write music that conveys a feeling, I’ve never struggled to assign a lyrical topic to a song. “Sober Love” always felt like jaded, somber, yet sarcastic and passionate. By contrast, “Fever Dream” sounded contemplative and angry.

TLDR: Moving to Philly marked the beginning of a massive change in my writing. So when I joined the band, the established sound gained a different voice, both literally and lyrically. Philly is the vein that connects my passion to my words, and I think it’s a big reason Panic’s sound has evolved.

You’ve described your music as a blend of infectious pop-punk hooks and metal-influenced drums. How do you balance those heavier technical elements with the melodic grit that defines the genre?

Devon: In my opinion, Justin’s riffs are so incredibly catchy and established. They provide guitar parts that speak for themselves in a VERY pop-punk way. However, Justin’s personality adds a specific quirkiness to his parts. I feel like every pop punk guitarist could hear Justin’s writing and ask, “how did I never think of that?”

That’s Justin’s superpower, and the quirks leave a lot of room for creative drum parts that aren’t really typical of a pop-punk sound.

We also somehow achieve unique song structures that come naturally to us. I think that keeps us interesting as well. I’m also going to go out on a limb to pat myself on the back lol, because when I am writing a vocal melody, I HEAVILY prioritize getting that “established” feeling. A huge part of that feeling is the catchiness. I find that many bands fall short on this and underestimate the importance. I believe a melody is the reason anyone will care about hearing your lyrics.

Our bass lines also tend to be more intricate than what’s expected in our genre, yet still provide that catchy experience. Jess is a master at this.

The balance happens pretty naturally because each of us takes pride in creating something truly valuable to ourselves and our listeners. I don’t think we would ever release a song we thought was mediocre. This is also a huge part of why we can integrate the heaviness with the pop almost instinctively.

l-r: Justin Trumpler (guitar/bkg vocals), Devon Kelly (lead vocals), Jess Abrams (bass), Greg Rice (drums). Photo credit: @elevatedphotobooths

Looking back at the release of Divide and Devour in 2020, how has the band’s approach to songwriting and production evolved as you work on the upcoming sophomore album?

Devon: I was fortunate enough to already know Drew Gantert, founder and producer of Small Face Studios. He recorded and produced Divide and Devour from his Fishtown Philly basement. Making an album isn’t cheap, but Drew understood the vision and worked with us to be able to accomplish our goals in a way we could all feasibly afford. So much of that record was fine-tuned by Drew, along with the fun little added elements we have come to deem necessary parts of the listening experience.

Our 4 most recent singles are our favorite work so far. First off, the production: they were recorded in the opposite of a basement; we had some money in the band fund from having played shows and selling merch for a few years, so we were in a better position to go a more professional route with recording. We found Jon Sambrick of Thornwall Studios, a good 2 hour drive from Philly. We all split the remaining studio costs with each other, and it was worth it.

Second, these songs were all written from scratch by the performing band members at the time. This was the first time we were recording a group of songs that everyone in the band wrote together. divide and Devour had multiple tracks that were written before I or our drummer at the time joined the band. That meant a few songs feel slightly disingenuous to me. These new ones feel so organic and upon listening, I think it’s apparent that each instrument is played and each lyric is sung with a lot of pride and ownership.

The band recently returned from a hiatus with a refreshed lineup. How has this new chemistry influenced the creative energy in the studio during the current recording sessions?

Devon: The hiatus occurred for multiple reasons. Beforehand, there were issues with tension and band morale. Without naming anyone/anything specific, we never really knew how we would be leaving a rehearsal, show, or even a casual hangout. It’s not productive or healthy to have any members whose mood can dictate the entire vibe of a group.

After coming back with a fresh lineup of people who exude warmth and enthusiasm, the band has seen a drastic uptick in productivity. Our communication styles mesh very well, and we are relieved and lucky to continue to play the music we have made and loved for so long, let alone writing and recording new stuff.

This specific lineup has never recorded together before, but we have no doubt the process will be smooth, positive, and fun. Even with the high tensions of our old group, we still had a great time recording with Jon. But this time we will have eliminated the tension altogether. We are so excited.

"Alexa 2.0!" is a reimagined version of a 2021 single. What sparked the decision to revisit that specific track, and what does the "2.0" version bring to the table that the original didn't?

Devon: This song always screamed “single” to us, ever since we first wrote it. Justin’s iconic intro riff is so memorable and the lyrics are all about having fun (aka being “irresponsible” after a long work week.)

We just thought it was too good to go without an updated version. The original recording lacked the backing vocals, and I think that’s a huge part. We also added gang vocals on 2 fun moments in the lyrics, and that adds such a fun texture to the song.

Last year saw the release of "Falling Backwards," "Leedle," and "Crying Wolf." How do those singles bridge the gap between your debut album and the new material coming in 2026?

Devon: These newer tracks represent a transitional period, and they definitely establish our new standard of songwriting, performance, marketing, and production! Kind of reminds me of when brands put “new look, same great product!” on their labels after a redesign. All those new elements just give some pretty good insight into what listeners can expect from our new album. Familiar songs, wrapped in a new visual/sound vibe.

Being named 93.3 WMMR’s Local Shots Artist of the Month is a significant milestone. How has that recognition and the interview with Brent Porche affected the band’s momentum heading into the new year?

Devon: We could not have achieved this without our drummer Greg, who reached out and submitted our songs to playlists, podcasts, events, and ultimately the Local Shots program!

As a Philly enthusiast I am so excited and honored that we were featured on such an iconic station in general, let alone the most beloved rock station in Philly and the tristate area. The late great Pierre Robert’s passing was monumental for the station too, and we are just so grateful and humbled that they still hosted their Local Shots program the same month.

The interview was great and certainly welcome practice for our interview dynamic! Brent was awesome and WMMR didn’t miss a single detail when promoting our stuff. They seemed genuinely interested and passionate about amplifying the little-known artists in the area. It’s amazing to have a popular station that still does selfless things to benefit its community.

The live performance of Ugly Side showcases a raw, high-energy side of the band. Is that track a good indicator of the overall direction or heaviness fans can expect from the next record?

Devon: I think it’s a good indicator of our sound! It’s a catchy, succinct song with some raw emotion behind it! I think we have some heavier material with Leedle being our heaviest track to date, but Ugly Side is tried and true. We are very pumped to record it! It’s very fun to play so that should translate live and in the recording!

With your next album expected to be completed in 2026, what are the primary themes or stories you find yourself exploring in the lyrics this time around?

Devon: We definitely have some fun, lighthearted lyrics that break up the more serious tones. At the risk of sounding pretentious, I really like to write about more nuanced thought processes beyond the typical love stories we are all used to hearing from our teen years. Pop punk fans have grown out of relating to topics of young love and high school. So it’s cool to write about our adult struggles and pairing those topics with a refreshed version of the nostalgic pop punk sound.

BUT on a fun note, we don’t take ourselves too seriously and I write with a lot of conversational tones, with the goal of digestible and relatable songs. Also we have a song about 👽 aliens!

The music video for “Falling Backwards” captures a specific aesthetic and era of the band. How important is the visual side of Panic Sets In—like music videos and social media—in connecting with your audience?

Devon: We definitely used blue, water, and certain props to capture all the nautical references/metaphors in Falling Backwards! We also wanted to avoid coming across like we take ourselves too seriously. We want the audience to feel welcome when they hear/see us. We incorporated a lot of laughter and smiles in our video, and we do that in photos as well. We think once a band looks unapproachable, the relatability disappears. We want to be likable, but also provide meaningful music with cohesive visual experiences that tie into the lyrics!

What has been the biggest challenge in maintaining renewed momentum after a break, and what advice would you give to other artists navigating a lineup change or hiatus?

Devon: I think the hardest part was continuing to push during the in-between phase, specifically finding new members. It can be disheartening to search for a good fit, because so many factors can get in the way. Scheduling issues and chemistry are only part of the struggle, and those things alone are tough to navigate.

We learned how much it pays off to keep practicing even when we were still looking for new members. As soon as we found the right fit, we were able to jump right back into playing shows because we weren’t too rusty. Now, we have the best lineup we’ve ever had. If we wallowed in the sadness of losing our last lineup, we would have never learned how good a new one could be!

So, I think my advice is to believe in your music, and know that if your music is special, you’ll find someone who wants to join the vision and understands the assignment! Breaking up isn’t always the right move; in fact it could be the best decision for the longevity and health of the band!

Looking ahead to the 2026 release, what is the one thing you want listeners to take away from this new era of Panic Sets In?

Devon: We are ALL in this life together, and our music is meant for anyone who finds value in it! Our music should feel safe, fun, validating, nostalgic, and fresh! We genuinely believe each track is gonna be a BANGER and I can personally guarantee at least one of these new songs will get stuck in your head!

Anyone you'd like to thank?

Devon: I’d like to thank you guys at knifetwister, Brent and everyone at WMMR, each of my bandmates, our friends and anyone else who comes to see us live, the playlist creators who featured us, Drew and Jon for enabling our sonic visions, people who interviewed us, and literally anyone who has come across our music and felt something.

And pizza. We eat a lot of pizza.

Links

Official website: https://www.panicsetsin.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panicsetsin

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@panicsetsin

Bandcamp: https://panicsetsin.bandcamp.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7dmjPc1Qc8uRs3muNcanDY

Inquiries: panicsetsinphilly@gmail.com

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