Upgrade Your Workout Playlist with our Band of the Month 

I don’t know about you, but for me, one of the best parts of working out is getting to listen to my favorite music. Just uninterrupted, straight into my ear canals, for an hour or two – there’s really nothing that beats it. And not only is listening to your most-loved songs enjoyable, but it can also boost your motivation, improve your mood and increase your workout performance. It’s even been surmised that listening to music while working out could be like “a type of legal performance-enhancing drug,” according to one of the world’s leading experts on the psychology of exercise music. 

Since music and exercise are so deeply intertwined, we decided to help you upgrade your workout playlist with our new feature, Band of the Month. Each month, we’ll spotlight a new band or artist that should be on your radar and in your earphones. This month, our band is First and Forever, a pop-punk band that all started with an ad on Craigslist. 

“I was bored at my accounting job, and decided I wanted to do something more exciting in my life,” says lead singer Alex Ryan, who then paired up with drummer David Pratt, and guitarist and bassist Marcus Leopard. Taking inspiration from early emo bands like My Chemical Romance and The Used, First and Forever will be right up your alley if you like the sounds of artists like Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard, and Pierce The Veil. 

We asked the band members for the five songs that you should add to your playlist, and  here were their recommendations:  

1. Sick Little Games
2. Let This Love Lie Dead
3. i’ve got a bad feeling about this…
4. In Loving Memory
5. You Would Never

You can listen to First and Forever’s entire lineup here, and give them a follow on @firstandforever to stay up to date on all their latest releases, tour dates, and news. And don’t forget to check back next month for our latest Band of the Month! You can also subscribe to The Weekly Rep to get notified when we’ve picked a new artist to spotlight.