Baltimore trio Skyward Story got their start as the pop punk outfit 3PM before a mid-2010s switch in direction took them down a more pop-focused path that revived the sounds of early-2000s punk-inspired pop crossovers. Like a mainstream-ready blend of the All-American Rejects, 5 Seconds of Summer, and One Direction, they released a handful of singles to reintroduce them to fans before issuing their full-length debut, Reborn, in early 2019.

The Warped-friendly 3PM released a pair of Green Day-inspired efforts in 2013 and 2014 before members Brandon Millman (drummer) and Scott Montgomery (guitarist) put an end to that era and began a search for a vocalist for a new project. They found singer Aaron O'Connor and the newly formed trio emerged as Skyward Story. Leaning heavier on the "pop" end of pop-punk, they crafted bright singalong anthems that echoed the poppiest output by forebears such as Jimmy Eat World and the aforementioned All-American Rejects. They also flexed their pop muscles by releasing covers of Top 40 hits such as Hailee Steinfeld's "Starving," the Chainsmokers' "Closer," and Panic at the Disco's "Death of a Bachelor." In 2017, they issued "Hey!" as the first official taste from Skyward Story. A slew of singles (and covers) kept the band busy through the following year. In January 2019, they released the aptly titled Reborn, which debuted in the Top 20 on Billboard's Alternative and Independent charts. ~ Neil Z. Yeung, Rovi