North West indie quartet Movin’ On return with a more introspective edge on their second single, ‘How We Used To’.
A track that signals both growth and refinement following the buzz of their debut. That first release already picked up support from Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6 Music, and this follow up leans further into the band’s evolving identity.
There is a clear sense of balance at play here. Emotionally direct songwriting sits against a propulsive indie backbone. ‘How We Used To’ carries the energy of their live shows, tight, urgent, and unpolished in the best sense, while also giving more space to the detail in their writing. Frontman Elijah Jenkins delivers a vocal performance that sits right at the centre of the track, cutting through the guitar driven arrangement with a quiet intensity that feels both immediate and personal.
Speaking about the single Elijah explains: “How We Used To is about forgetting the bad times with a certain person in your life and reflecting on the nostalgia of the good times. I wrote it between my second and third year at university in Manchester reflecting on the past year and things that had happened. You know you’re better off without the person but you still remember the good times and there’s that part of you that wonders ‘if you play pretend’ it’ll all be alright.”
Originally starting life as a solo project from Jenkins, Movin’ On have since expanded into a full four piece, reshaping those early acoustic ideas into something more expansive and collaborative. The result is a sound that feels bigger without losing its emotional core, built for rooms as much as it is for headphones.
Their name, pulled from a WhatsApp exchange and never overthought, now feels fitting for a band threading themes of nostalgia, escapism and forward motion through their work. That push and pull between memory and momentum sits right at the heart of their songwriting.
Momentum has been steadily building across the North West, with sets at Deva Fest, Noisy Weekender and a run of This Feeling showcases helping cement their reputation as a live force. Their debut full band single ‘Absolutely’ has already passed 30,000 streams and earned further radio support, while a sold out headline show at Liverpool’s Jacaranda marked another step up.
With ‘How We Used To’, Movin’ On continue to sharpen their sound, offering a track that leans into nostalgia without losing its drive, and further positioning them as one of the North West’s most promising emerging indie acts.
Listen below:
