Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: Cassandra Popescu
The OBGMs have been nominated for the 2026 JUNO Awards for Alternative Album of the Year for “Sorry, It’s Over“.
The OBGMs are the greatest show in punk. Period.
No qualifiers, no apologies. The Toronto band has built a reputation on unmatched live energy—the kind that leaves sweat on the walls and fans gasping for more.
Their latest album, SORRY, IT’S OVER, landed them their second Polaris Prize Short List and earned critical acclaim for dragging punk into sharper, more dangerous territory. It’s therapy with teeth, an album that sounds like survival and victory all at once.
They’ve shared stages with Billy Talent, PUP, and Death From Above 1979, proving night after night that The OBGMs don’t just belong—they dominate.
Loud, brash, and undeniable, The OBGMs are here to take punk to its next stadium-shaking chapter.
I had the opportunity to chat with The OBGMs about their 2026 Juno Award Nomination, finding inspiration, and what’s next.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your latest album, SORRY, IT’S OVER?
OBGMs: SORRY, IT’S OVER was largely inspired by me going to therapy. I was struggling with life, and it was starting to show. A friend once sent me a voice note that made something click—I realized how often I avoided talking about what I was actually feeling.
The album became a way to finally say those things out loud. As a Black Caribbean man, I grew up used to holding things in and pushing through. Therapy pushed me to confront that, open up, and seek help. The record is really about getting those truths off my chest.
Kat: What do you hope fans take away from the album?
OBGMs: I hope it encourages people to check in on their strong friends. Sometimes the people who look like they’re holding everything together are the ones carrying the most. If the record inspires someone to try therapy or open up about what they’re going through, that would mean a lot.
More than anything, I hope it connects with people on a deeper level than just chords and sound—something that offers a bit of relief or catharsis if they’re carrying pain. And of course, I hope Canadians find a way to make SZA, Beyonce, President Barack Obama, and/or Glorilla listen to it. Let’s get creative.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
OBGMs: The hardest part of my creative process is the pressure. Is this good enough? Are we as a band good enough? Am I good enough? How do we let go of the things we can’t control? There’s also the pressure to be honest while not wanting it to feel like I’m marketing my trauma. All of that creates a lot of doubt and insecurities that tend to argue with each other.
This record forced me to confront things I was still processing, so finding a way to speak about them—when that isn’t my natural instinct—was difficult.
And as a completely independent band, we handle all the music and visuals ourselves. Realizing the full vision takes a lot of resourcefulness. Costs don’t always come financially—sometimes it’s money, sometimes it’s sleep and sanity.
Kat: How does it feel to be a 2026 JUNO Nominee in Alternative Album of the Year?
OBGMs: I shed a tear when I found out. It immediately made me think about the history of the band—practicing in Cola’s mom’s basement, being a Black-fronted punk band often standing alone in the scene, and getting booked mostly on hip-hop shows while trying to find our people. We always believed we were great, but we still had to convince others to believe it too.
I thought about the sacrifices, the nights alone, the doubt, and how unkind the industry can sometimes be. There have been very few Black-fronted artists nominated for Alternative Album of the Year, so that makes this moment even more meaningful. This is the record where I bared my soul. We went broke making it, but we were held up by family and real friends. If there was ever a record I would want this recognition for, it’s this one. I think the only thing that would feel better is turning ‘nominee’ into winner.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way?
OBGMs: Outside of some incredible shows we’ve played for thousands of people, one of the biggest highlights has been sitting in rooms with my musical heroes and realizing they actually like my band. That’s still a wild thought to me. Bands like Alexisonfire, Billy Talent, Death From Above 1979, PUP, The Carps, and Sum 41—I grew up listening to them, and now we’re actually talking, sharing stages, and existing in the same world. Younger me would never have believed that was possible.
Along the way, I’ve learned to trust my gut. Focus on refining the things you can control and let go of the things you can’t. That mindset has brought me a lot more peace and happiness.
Kat: You’re about to embark on a tour. What are you most looking forward to?
OBGMs: Toronto is home. Montreal is home. Ottawa has become our home away from home. Those cities have really embraced us over the years, so it’s always special to come back and play for the people who supported us early on.
We’ve also been working on new music and can’t wait to start sharing it live. I know we are going to surprise people, and I can’t wait.
And then there’s the UK and Europe. We’re crossing the pond for the first time since before the pandemic, which feels really special.
Connect:
https://www.instagram.com/theobgms
https://temple.groover.co/the-obgms