Dark, explosive, and emotionally charged — “Tokyo Ghost” delivers soaring melody and controlled chaos in one unforgettable pop-punk punch
Winnipeg five-piece Black and White Rewrite are back — louder, sharper, and more energized than ever. Blending decades of punk, emo, pop, and hardcore influences, the band keeps strong songwriting at the core while never shying away from pushing their sound forward.
After the 2015 release of Keepsakes, featuring standout singles “Shut In Shut Out” and “Collapse,” BWR have reformed in 2025 with fresh momentum, new music, and a clear mission: to return to the scene swinging and ready to make noise, and have released “Tokyo Ghost.”
Review
“Tokyo Ghost” takes isolation and makes it feel massive. Set against the glow of a sleepless city, the track paints Tokyo as a “city of ghosts,” capturing that strange mix of being surrounded by millions of people while still feeling completely alone.
The verses are intimate and reflective, but the chorus opens everything up — urgent, driving, and built for shouting back at the dark. That repetition of “City of ghosts” doesn’t just linger, it hits, especially paired with the band’s tight instrumentation and emotional push.
Then the key change lands and the whole mood shifts. What starts as exhaustion turns into resolve. “Tokyo Ghost” is cinematic, cathartic, and proof that Black and White Rewrite know exactly how to turn vulnerability into something loud and unforgettable.
First off, care to introduce yourselves to our readers?
We’re Black and White Rewrite – a 5-piece rock band based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Our music takes inspiration from decades of punk, emo, pop and hardcore. Our full length album was released in 2015, with the singles Shut In, Shut Out, and Collapse. Collapse went on to win the 2017 Canada Music Network Star Search song contest. After a long hiatus, we started writing and recording new music again in 2025 – with lots of new music in store for 2026.
“Tokyo Ghost” has a dark but high-energy feel — what was the first spark that inspired the song?
When we first got back to writing, our bass player, Curtis, told us about his experience flying to Japan a while ago in the middle of the night. Their plane was nearly struck by lightning and when they landed at the airport, everything was deserted and closed. The airport had an ominous, liminal feeling. It was surreal to go somewhere so densely populated, but at a rare moment of empty quiet – staying awake for hours with one other person and a language barrier. We knew the story had to become a song, and wanted the music to reflect some of that anxiety and energy.
What does the title “Tokyo Ghost” represent to you, both lyrically and emotionally?
The title represents a few things. The eerie feeling of being abandoned and alone in a place where you can’t easily communicate or navigate. It could be Japan or almost anywhere. It’s also about that feeling of being haunted because a place is missing the things that bring it to life, like when you’re alone in a giant building or down an empty street. The desire for other people and community shines when you’re forced to be alone somewhere unfamiliar.
Your sound pulls from classic pop-punk and emo influences — who were the biggest sonic inspirations behind this track?
Sonically, the song was inspired by bands like The Used, Billy Talent, My Chemical Romance and Finch. Something about those bands particularly really lends well to the story of the song.
You’re representing Winnipeg with this release — how has your local scene shaped your sound?
Winnipeg is absolutely stacked with talent. Every week we discover another band doing incredible things. Whether it’s punk, or metal, or other genres like pop, country or hip-hop. But the thing about the scene that shapes our sound is that it’s one giant supportive community. It’s a place where a band can feel comfortable experimenting and pushing their boundaries, knowing that the other musicians in Winnipeg will be right there to support and help. It’s one of the best music communities in the country and it’s crazy how often it’s slept on.
What was the recording process like?
DIY! After hearing the story about Tokyo, Mikey (vocals) wrote the lyrics and sang the melody into a voice recorder on the phone. Robin (guitar) very quickly turned the song into a fully functioning demo – not all that different from the final arrangement of the song. Curtis (bass) and Christian (guitar) trackedtheir parts at Robin’s home studio. We absolutely love the drums on this track. Our drummer (Hannah) has turned the basement in her 1960’s house into a small drum studio. With meticulous mic placement and sound treatment, and just unbelievable skill, her drums always sound like they’re recorded in a professional studio. That level of attention to detail really set the foundation for the rest of the recording. Mikey did some more vocal tracking in his home studio and at Langside Studios in British Columbia, where the song was mixed and mastered by Richard Jensen.
Is “Tokyo Ghost” a preview of a larger project or upcoming release?
Absolutely. Our last major release was in 2015 and since reuniting we’re itching to put out more music. Tokyo Ghost is the first single for our upcoming EP “Copeful” which will be released later this year.
What goals have you set for Black and White Rewrite for the rest of 2026?
We want to release at least one EP, but we have 2 almost finished – we never stop writing. We’re excited for 2026 to be our comeback year and to use this time to set the foundation for an even bigger 2027.
What has the reception been like for the new single?
We’re really proud to have received tons of positive reception to the track. We’ve been getting great responses and reviews from fans, bloggers and curators on a local and national scale. We’ve been added to radio stations all the way from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, we have radio in-person appearances booked, and we were lucky enough to be invited for an exclusive live debut of the song on the Pegcity Soundoff Podcast. We’re so happy to see how the song is connecting with people.
Black and White Rewrite is a cool name. What is its origin?
The name comes from two places. Part of it is inspired directly by a line from All I Wanted by Paramore – one of the most influential groups of our generation. It’s also an ode to the lyrical approach Mikey uses when writing. All the songs are based on real world experiences, whether his own or someone else’s. In those influences is a real story, told in black and white. But while the song comes to life, it takes on its own meaning and value – a rewrite of its original source.
Connect with Black and White Rewrite:
Facebook
Instagram
Spotify