Next to Now is a skatepunk/pop punk quartet from Austin, Texas, built on grit, speed, and hard-earned truth. Fronted by Fernando Hemkes on lead vocals and guitar, alongside Kyle Bause on lead guitar and backing vocals, drummer Ryan Woodruff, and Guido Crimes on bass and backing vocals, the band channels the raw energy of classic Fat Wreck-era punk with a deeply personal edge.

At the core of Next to Now is Hemkes’ story—a turbulent journey through decades of addiction, now sharpened into clarity with three years of sobriety. Instead of hiding from that past, the band leans into it, turning scars into anthems. Their songs hit fast and melodically, balancing breakneck drums and driving basslines with hooks that stick long after the last chord fades.

Lyrically, Next to Now lives in the space between collapse and comeback, reckoning with regret, rebuilding identity, and finding purpose after chaos. There’s pain in the verses, but the choruses punch through with resilience, redemption, and the kind of hope that only comes from surviving the worst.

With a sound rooted in classic skatepunk but fueled by real-life stakes, Next to Now isn’t just another pop punk band—they’re proof that second chances can be loud, fast, and unforgettable.