The Michigan pop punk scene is finding a new sense of community with the help of a Grand Rapids duo.
Ryan Ykimoff, 21, bassist and co-vocalist for Midwest Skies, and Justin Stermin, 22, a self-proclaimed avid music supporter, are the co-founders of the organization known as Michigan Pop Punk Alliance. The two gained inspiration from watching the hardcore music scene grow, and decided to try and form the same sort of music community with the pop punk genre they love so much.
The idea behind the organization became more concrete roughly three months ago, and the official MPPA Facebook page was launched one month ago.
“We wanted to take our time and do it right,” Ykimoff said. “But we’re still a fledgling organization with some kinks to work out.”
MPPA’s Facebook page is one of the key tools Ykimoff and Stermin are using to give the bands the sense of support and community.
“Bands get to share resources with other bands,” Stermin said. “Without the MPPA it’s an opportunity they might not have had.”
The MPPA thus far consists of eight bands: Cities and Years, Eyes on the Sky, Maybe Next Time, Midwest Skies, Steinhart, Three Cents Short, Too Soon to Say, and Way to Fall.
“But we’re always accepting applications,” Ykimoff said.
But the MPPA has some stringent requirements for that members have to meet. In addition to having a pop punk sound, the MPPA looks for bands who have a more established fan base and sound – bands who have already put forth a lot of time and effort.
“We don’t want to be jerks, but we want the bands to feel like they’ve earned their membership,” Ykimoff said. “We want to help bands who have helped themselves first.”
Down the road, they hope the organization can ultimately become a brand and label with merchandise and shows all under the MPPA name. Ykimoff and Stermin have also been tossing around the idea of an MPPA mini-tour. It would be a somewhat informal tour that would travel all across Michigan, with the hope of getting the organization’s name out there and giving the bands some exposure. In addition, they hope that the cross-state tour will help bands make connections on the opposite side of the state.
“One of our main goals is to bridge the gap between east and west side bands,” Ykimoff said. “It can be surprisingly difficult without any pull on the opposite side of the state.”
Both Ykimoff and Stermin are optimistic about what the future holds for the MPPA’s.
“There’s just been so much pure, raw support,” Stermin said. “We’re really excited for the future of the bands and the organization.”
