If there’s one band that’s got the grit, guts, and guitar hooks to crash through your speakers and into your soul, it’s American Ink. Hailing from Boston, this trio, Nick Fauza (drums), Michael Romano (guitar), and Aidan Crotty (bass), are living proof that basement-born bands still have something real to say. Fueled by friendship, late-night jam sessions, and a serious love for music that hits you right in the heart, American Ink blends pop-punk punch with indie-rock feels and just the right amount of melodic chaos.
They got their start with the debut EP Hand-Drawn Hearts, a record soaked in nostalgia and sincerity. That early work set the tone for what American Ink is all about: big emotions, even bigger riffs, and zero apologies. From there, they dropped tracks like “Please Forget You Knew My Name” and “Up Next On…” songs that earned love from outlets like Sound of Boston and proved that these guys were more than just another garage band.
Enter their latest full-length album, What I See, What People See, and things start to pop off. Written, recorded, and mixed entirely in their basement studio (DIY till they die), this album is American Ink at their most honest, unfiltered, and full-throttle. It’s a record that doesn’t try to be anything other than itself, and that’s exactly why it works.
Standout tracks like “Name Tag” and “Blacklight” show off their range, jumping from raw vulnerability to straight-up anthemic choruses that beg to be screamed in the car at midnight. Then there’s “Wishing,” a song that feels like a sugar rush and a breakdown all at once (in the best way possible). Each track pulls from a different part of the band’s identity, and somehow it all gels into something cohesive, catchy, and completely theirs.
Since dropping their album, the trio has kept the momentum going with standout singles like “LaLaLa,” “Wait For Me Again…” and “Still Water.” Each release pushes their sound further and proves that American Ink is only getting stronger, pulling in new fans with every track.
At the end of the day, American Ink isn’t just making music, they’re building a universe. One where you can scream your heart out, dance like an idiot, and feel a little less alone. If that’s not what music’s about, then what is?
