Porcelain Girl Ignite Derby’s Emo Revival with New EP i hate you – Out 1st April 2026

Emo is back in Derby. Not the polished, radio-friendly version that dominated the mid-2000s, but the raw, twinkly, lo-fi, emotionally charged sound that fans of Midwest emo have been craving. And leading the charge locally is Derby band Porcelain Girl, who are set to release their highly anticipated EP i hate you. on 1st April 2026.

For those paying attention to the Derby grassroots scene over the past year, Porcelain Girl have already built a reputation as one of the most exciting new bands emerging from the city. TRENDИG recently had the honour of hearing the EP ahead of its official release on streaming platforms, and having seen the band perform live at The Victoria Inn on three occasions, it is clear this is a group riding a genuine wave of momentum.

Their debut gig sold out in anticipation of their arrival on the local scene. The two gigs that followed were equally chaotic, in the best possible way. The last performance, just a couple of weeks ago, had a palpable buzz around the venue even before the band took the stage. Once they did, the room erupted. From start to finish the crowd sang along, threw themselves into the mosh pit and moved as one.

It felt less like watching a band and more like being part of something.

That sense of connection runs throughout i hate you., a five-track EP that perfectly captures the messy emotion, melodic intricacy and explosive energy that defines the modern Midwest emo revival.

One of the tracks has already been released as the band’s third single, “Black Ops II on the Xbox 360.” It offers an early glimpse of what the EP delivers in full: twinkling guitars, emotionally raw lyrics and explosive shifts between delicate melody and crushing heaviness.

The full track listing for i hate you. is as wonderfully chaotic and creative as you would expect from a Midwest emo band:

1. Singing Along to Modern Baseball on Bonfire Night
2. Ben Thatcher Died 4 R Zyns
3. Black Ops II on the Xbox 360
4. Sesame Street Beefs
5. Tony Blair Witch Project

In true Midwest emo fashion, the song titles are almost as entertaining as the music itself.

But the songs back it up.

Let’s break the EP down track by track.

The opening track, “Singing Along to Modern Baseball on Bonfire Night,” is an absolute banger and also served as the opener in their most recent live set. From the first few seconds it hits you with an infectious guitar hook that sticks in your head almost immediately. The chorus is even more addictive.

Stylistically it leans slightly more towards pop punk than traditional Midwest emo, but that blend is exactly what makes Porcelain Girl so interesting. The band themselves would probably tell you they pull influence from across the spectrum, from emo and pop punk to hardcore and beyond.

This track feels radio-ready while still keeping the edge that makes underground music exciting. It is fast-paced, well written and full of melodic vocal hooks with the occasional burst of screaming that keeps the energy high. When a song sounds like something you feel you have heard before, but somehow new at the same time, it usually means a band has written a winner.

And this one is exactly that.

Track two, “Ben Thatcher Died 4 R Zyns,” takes things in a heavier direction. Named after a close friend of the band and dedicated to him during live performances, the song begins with an intricate and delicate twinkly guitar section that builds beautifully before everything explodes.

Suddenly the track drops into heavy emo stabs and thunderous drums. Then the vocals arrive.

Loud, emotional screams tear through the mix while melodic guitars swirl around them. The repeated cry of “I hate you” cuts through the track, accompanied by samples from 10 Things I Hate About You, a reference that fits perfectly within the playful yet emotional chaos of the genre.

Midway through, the tempo shifts as the main riff slows slightly, allowing the emotional weight of the vocals to sit heavily over the instrumentation. The screams feel raw and unfiltered, reinforcing the track’s emotional core.

It is powerful, dramatic and unapologetically emo.

Next up is “Black Ops II on the Xbox 360,” which fans may already recognise. The track has been released as a single and is currently available to stream, with a music video also on the way.

This song gives listeners a brief moment to breathe before diving back into the intensity. It opens with a slower distorted guitar before sliding into softer melodic vocals. The intricate guitar work remains throughout, providing a delicate counterbalance to the heavier moments.

Lines like “don’t take it out on me” capture the raw emotional honesty that runs through the band’s writing.

The verses feel slightly more ambient, with layered harmonies floating above the instrumentation. But when the chorus hits, everything ramps up again. Fuzzy guitars roar into life while the melodic vocals soar above the noise.

Live, the crowd were already singing along, which is not surprising. This is exactly the type of track that lodges itself in your head after one listen.

After the second chorus the band drop into a brief breakdown, complete with a four-count scream that feels like a direct invitation for the crowd to lose their minds in the mosh pit. The song finishes faster and louder, pushing the energy right back to full throttle.

Track four, “Sesame Street Beefs,” might have one of the best titles on the EP, and the song itself lives up to it.

It starts slowly and atmospherically, giving listeners a moment of calm before the storm. But the calm does not last long. Soon the track explodes into a wall of hardcore-leaning emo with thunderous drums and crushing guitars.

The beat on this song is particularly strong, driving the track forward with relentless momentum. Vocally there is even a slight nu-metal edge here, blended with the emotional intensity that defines the band’s sound.

The chorus shifts between hardcore aggression and pure emo melody, with beautiful vocal passages cutting through the heaviness. Despite the sheer weight of the instrumentation, those signature twinkly guitars still shimmer in the background.

It is heavy, dark and built for chaos in a packed room.

Expect mosh pits.

Finally we arrive at “Tony Blair Witch Project,” which may win the award for best song title on the EP.

The closing track takes a different approach. It begins softly, with beautiful lyrics and soulful vocals that gradually build in intensity. Twinkly guitars weave delicate patterns while a subtle bassline sits perfectly underneath.

Layer by layer the song expands. Harmonies join the lead vocal, adding warmth and depth to the already emotional performance.

The tension slowly builds towards a powerful crescendo.

Then the line “and I fall” rings out.

For a brief moment everything hangs in the air before the song explodes. The drums crash in, distortion floods the guitars and the previously delicate vocals transform into guttural screams.

It feels like the calm before a storm suddenly turning into a full-blown tornado.

As a closer, it works perfectly.

Taken as a whole, i hate you. is a beautifully crafted EP. It is clear the band have taken their time with it, carefully shaping each track while preserving the raw energy that makes their live shows so electric.

From start to finish it is a record that rewards repeat listening. Each track reveals new details, new guitar flourishes and new emotional layers.

More importantly, it captures the feeling of being in the room with them.

If you have not seen Porcelain Girl live yet, this EP will almost certainly make you want to.

And luckily you will have the chance very soon.

To celebrate the release, the band will be hosting their EP launch show on 18 April at Dubrek Studios in Derby, supported by Sinker, Fistpump and Mesa Verde. Given the energy of their previous gigs, it is safe to assume this will be another loud, sweaty and unforgettable night of Midwest emo and hardcore.

So mark your calendars.

Stream i hate you. when it drops on 1 April 2026, and then head down to Dubrek on 18 April to experience it the way it was meant to be heard.

Because if Porcelain Girl are anything to go by, emo is not just back.

In Derby, it is louder than ever.

Long live Derbemo!

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