Biography
The Paradox are an American pop-punk band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2024. The lineup is Eric Dangerfield (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Christopher "Xelan" Bernard (lead guitar), Donald Bryant (bass) and Percy "PC3" Crews III (drums).[1]
Dangerfield started the project in June 2024 with Bryant and Bernard, and the band's social accounts passed 730,000 followers within a month.[1] Their first song, "Kaitlyn," went viral, and early invitations included a Green Day opening slot arranged by Billie Joe Armstrong and a show supporting Jack White in Nashville.[1][2] Dangerfield names Blink-182, Sum 41, Green Day, The Beatles and New Found Glory among his influences.[1]
They signed to Hundred Days Records, a Virgin Records subsidiary, and released the EP NSFW in September 2025. "Get the Message" reached number one on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart in January 2026, and the band followed it with their EP Proceed With Caution in October 2026.[1][2]
"Get the Message" made them the first all-Black band to reach number one on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart, and they were selected for YouTube's Foundry Class of 2026.[7] In June 2026 they returned with "Good For Me", written with Nick Furlong (known for Blink-182 and All Time Low) and co-produced by Andrew Goldstein and Daniel "Robopop" Omelio.[7][8] The band also counts a Travis Barker guest appearance on "Bender" and a tour with All Time Low among its milestones.[7]
The Barker collaboration began when the drummer messaged the band on Instagram asking to work together; Dangerfield says the resulting song, "Bender", started with a doo-wop feel before Barker pushed it in a harder direction.[9] It was released on July 25, 2025 as the band's third single for Hundred Days Records, with Barker later joining them on stage at Vans Warped Tour, and it appears on the EP NSFW.[10]
References
- Wikipedia: The Paradox (band) — Band formation, lineup, viral rise, chart history, EP dates
- Shore Fire Media: Proceed With Caution announcement — Press release on the EP, the single, Tiny Desk preview and tour
- VICE New Music Friday, 24 July 2026 — Critical description of the single and its 2003 pop-punk comparisons
- The Concert Chronicles: NPR Tiny Desk debut — Tiny Desk setlist and the band's stated mission
- The Witzard: interview with Eric Dangerfield — Dangerfield on sound, songwriting, and being a Black pop-punk band
- Melodic Magazine: The Paradox is checking off boxes — EP announcement and headline tour details
- Shore Fire Media: The Paradox Kick Off Their Next Era With Soaring New Single "Good For Me" — Release date, collaborators, visualizer and how the single was framed
- pm studio: The Paradox Releases New Song "Good For Me" — Full songwriting and production credits
- RIFF Magazine: The Paradox brings Black suburban view on Proceed with Caution — How the Travis Barker collaboration began
- EARMILK: The Paradox and Travis Barker go on a "Bender" with new single — Release date and label context for Bender