( ENSPIRE Music ) STAT Champions Authenticity and Queerness in Today’s Pop Punk Scene
ENSPIRE Contributor: Seanna Nona
Stand Atlantic are a pop punk band from Sydney, Australia that started in 2012 and were first known as What It’s Worth. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Bonnie Fraser, bassist Miki Rich, guitarist and keyboardist David Potter, and drummer Jonno Panichi. First signed to Rude Records now with Hopeless Records the band have skyrocketed in popularity having multiple headline tours and performed in festivals across the world.
First coming out with their EP Sidewinder in 2017 to now having four albums as of 2025 the band has grown immensely not only in their sound but also in their personal lives.
The punk scene has always had a strong attachment to what it means to be punk. Bands like Stand Atlantic are no stranger to this type of mentality some punk fans have. Once their second album dropped, the name punk rock slipped and turned into pop punk. The noise from some fans was loud and consistent; many called for them to return to their old sound. Bands like Paramore, Linkin Park, and Simple Plan have experienced this type of treatment before. The punk scene is tight-knit and defiant, but when it comes to what being punk means, things can get a bit cagey and oppressive.
Fearless in their belief in themselves and who they are as a band, Stand Atlantic continued honing in their sound and allowed themselves to be creative. Blending various genres together their next album, F.E.A.R., fully established who they are and their ability to create a sound of their own. And, of course, kick back at the haters with songs like Hair Out and Dumb.
Being a woman and also gay in such a male dominated industry also comes with its challenges. But Fraser didn’t let that stop her. Rather than dwelling on the setbacks the punk scene has created, she drives headfirst into making music and leads by example. There is a place for her in this scene and thus for many women and queer individuals as well.
Whether it’s staying true to their sound (Eviligo), being unapologetically themselves (LOVE U ANYWAY), or just rocking out, Stand Atlantic know who they are and are lighting up the punk scene.
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