Atlanta pop-punk band The Paradox continue their rapid ascent with the release of their new single “I Kinda Like That,” arriving today as the latest preview of their forthcoming six-track EP Proceed With Caution, due out October 2 via Hundred Days/Virgin Music Group.
I Kinda Like That
Listen to I Kinda Like That on Spotify. Song · The Paradox · 2026
The track arrives just months after the group made Billboard history as the first all-Black band to top the Alternative Airplay chart with “Get the Message.” Following the June release of “Good for Me,” “I Kinda Like That” further expands the band’s sound, blending their sharp pop-punk foundation with stronger traces of funk, Motown, R&B, and the hip-hop influences that shaped them.
“We started working on the first songs for this around July of last year,” frontman Eric Dangerfield said. “We were in the studio with Nick Furlong and Daniel ‘Robopop’ Omelio cooking up some stuff, and we did ‘Good for Me’ and ‘I Kinda Like That’ in a few days. That’s when I started to feel like it was an evolution and a step in the next direction.”
The band first teased the song during their NPR Tiny Desk performance for Black Music Month. Early snippets quickly drew attention from artists including Tyla, Joe Jonas, and Normani. Drummer Percy “PC3” Crews highlighted the track’s raw, live energy, noting that it was recorded without a click track: “It’s just the four of us, plugged up, going crazy. I feel like that one’s going to be one of those in the tape people rave about.”
Formed in Atlanta in the summer of 2024, The Paradox—Eric Dangerfield (vocals/guitar), Christopher “Xelan” Bernard (lead guitar/vocals), Donald Bryant (bass), and Percy “PC3” Crews (drums)—have built a devoted following with infectious hooks, high-energy live shows, and a clear mission to expand what modern rock can look and sound like. High-profile supporters have included Billie Joe Armstrong, Travis Barker (who appeared on their track “Bender”), and others.
Proceed With Caution finds the group leaning further into their full range of influences rather than staying locked into a classic pop-punk template. Tracks such as “Stoner Mentality” and “That’s Not Fair” point to that broader palette. The band has framed the project as both a creative step forward and a continuation of their effort to reclaim rock’s Black roots.
“No matter what we make, it’s going to be Black music; taking this as far as it can go is the best thing we can do for the culture,” Crews said. Dangerfield added that those roots surface naturally: “For me, it was Motown, and the guys grew up on hip-hop and R&B.”
The EP announcement coincides with news of the band’s first national headlining tour, set to kick off October 14 in Dallas and wrap November 18 with a sold-out hometown show in Atlanta. Multiple dates, including initial New York and Los Angeles shows, sold out quickly enough to prompt added nights that also sold out.
“I Kinda Like That” is available now on streaming platforms, accompanied by an official visualizer. Proceed With Caution is available for pre-order and arrives October 2.
