Next Week’s Washing Find Strength and Serenity in “To Carry On”

LISTEN TO “TO CARRY ON” HERE

Toronto-based indie newcomers Next Week’s Washing emerge as one of the most exciting voices in the city’s thriving alt scene with “To Carry On,” a dreamy, emotionally resonant single that captures the quiet resolve of today’s youth. Blending shimmering guitars, lush harmonies, and fearless honesty, the track feels both intimate and cinematic — the kind of song that lingers long after the final chord fades.

At once ethereal and grounded, “To Carry On” channels a universal sense of persistence: the human need to keep moving forward despite uncertainty. It’s a track that embodies growth, both in its theme and its sound — richly layered vocals rising over reverb-drenched guitars and a rhythm section that feels as steady as it is soaring. There’s a maturity and self-assurance here that belies the band’s young age, suggesting a group not just making music, but building something enduring.

Written as part of their forthcoming breakout EP, “To Carry On” shows Next Week’s Washing at their most deliberate and expressive. “The song has more vocal layering than any other song on the EP, and we spent a lot of time perfecting it,” the band explains. “There’s a tempo change at the end that takes the song in a different direction, giving it a completely new vibe from what’s come before.”

That evolution within a single track mirrors the very sentiment of the song — the shift from tension to acceptance, from questioning to calm. The band’s interplay of sound and emotion is masterful, building a sense of catharsis that’s deeply satisfying yet full of longing.

The recording process was equally thoughtful. Engineered by Dylan Frankland (Tallies) and mastered by Noah Mintz, the song shines with clarity while maintaining a human touch — organic, raw, and real. Backing vocals by Julian Duffy and Rhys Newman, the band’s two guitarists, add a choral warmth that elevates the song’s emotional pull and marks one of the EP’s most distinct moments.

“This song considers the universal experience of going through challenges in life and discovering their causes,” the band reflects. “As you do this, you become more at ease with the things life throws at you and you can accept any challenges for what they are. Simply stated, you’re able to carry on – just as the title suggests.”

That statement could easily serve as the band’s manifesto. Formed in 2024 by Rhys Newman and brothers Miles and Julian Duffy, Next Week’s Washing quickly made waves across Toronto’s indie landscape for their rich sound and deeply personal songwriting. Their influences — from the anthemic pull of Oasis to the lush dreamscapes of Slowdive — inform but never define them. Instead, they’ve forged a sound that feels distinctly their own: atmospheric yet confident, nostalgic yet forward-looking.

Where many debut singles feel tentative, “To Carry On” radiates conviction. It’s music made by a band with a clear sense of who they are — and where they’re going. The vocals soar without pretense, the guitars shimmer like city lights in the distance, and the rhythm builds a foundation strong enough to hold the song’s weight.

In an age where indie often leans toward irony or detachment, Next Week’s Washing sound refreshingly sincere. “To Carry On” doesn’t just document resilience — it embodies it, transforming uncertainty into motion, and motion into meaning.

As their debut EP approaches, the song stands as both an introduction and a declaration: this is a band ready to step beyond their city’s borders, to connect across cultures and emotions through melody and heart.

Because sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do — in music, in life, in love — is exactly what the title says: carry on.