Celebrity Name: Pinkshift
New Company: Ground Control Touring
Primary Agent: Sydney Sanial
Department: Live Touring / Booking
Territory: North America
- Baltimore alt-rock trio Pinkshift has signed with Ground Control Touring for North American booking representation, with agent Sydney Sanial leading the deal.
- The band continues its long-standing partnership with Votiv for management, keeping their core team intact.
- Pinkshift remains on Hopeless Records and retains Major and Atom Splitter PR for publicity, rounding out a full-service industry team.
- The signing comes on the heels of Earthkeeper (2025), the band’s second studio album and most critically praised release to date.
Pinkshift, the Baltimore alt-rock trio of vocalist Ashrita Kumar, guitarist Paul Vallejo, and drummer Myron Houngbedji, has officially signed with Ground Control Touring for North American representation. Agent Sydney Sanial will handle booking duties for the band.
Formed at Johns Hopkins University in 2019, Pinkshift broke through after their 2020 single “i’m gonna tell my therapist on you” went viral on Reddit. They went on to sign with Hopeless Records, releasing their debut album Love Me Forever in 2022 to strong critical reception, followed by the Suraksha EP in 2023.
In August 2025, they dropped Earthkeeper, their sophomore LP, a bolder, heavier record that pushed deeper into metalcore and grunge territory and earned widespread praise. The band recently wrapped The Earthkeeper Tour and is booked for Pouzza Fest 2026 in Montreal.
On the management side, Pinkshift stays with Votiv, while publicity remains with Major and Atom Splitter PR. Ground Control Touring has been on an active signing run.
The boutique agency recently brought aboard Lucky for North American representation and Meltt in a similar deal, signaling a clear focus on indie and alternative talent with serious touring upside.
Takeaways
This is a smart, well-timed move for Pinkshift. Coming off Earthkeeper, arguably their most fully realized project yet, landing with a well-respected boutique agency like Ground Control Touring gives them the infrastructure to convert their growing fanbase into a serious North American touring force.
GCT’s roster, which includes names like Japanese Breakfast, Waxahatchee, and New Found Glory, tells you exactly what kind of credibility this agency carries in the indie and alternative space, and Pinkshift fits right into that world.
Keeping Votiv for management and retaining both Major and Atom Splitter PR on publicity means the team around them is stable and experienced; no overhaul, just a key upgrade to the live booking side of the business.
Could this be the move that takes Pinkshift from club headliner to regular festival staple? How might Ground Control Touring’s indie‑leaning roster shape the kinds of tours Pinkshift lands on next?
