Meet Petrov: Charlotte's Punk-Pop Powerhouse
Petrov Bio
Petrov is a surging Charlotte, NC indie/pop/punk rock band that tore into the local scene with their powerful debut EP Sleep Year released by Self Aware Records in early 2019. The band is a gamut of veteran and fresh-faced Charlotte talent including guitarists Syd Little and Mike Backlund, bassist Matt McConomy, drummer Garrett Herzfeld, and vocalist Mary Grace McKusick, who soars as a first-time front-person for the band. Sleep Year remains widely-praised and garnered the band a slew of opportunities like appearances on WFAE’s award-winning podcast “Amplifier” with Joni Deutsch and a spot on NPR Music’s “Best Songs of 2019 (So Far)” list. In October of 2020 the band released their sophomore EP Flower Bed recorded with Kenny McWilliams at Archer Avenue Studio in Columbia, SC and mastered by Dave Harris at Studio B in Charlotte.
Latest Release/Tour
On May 2nd, 2025, Petrov will release their first full-length album, preceded by the singles “Read the Room,” “You’re It,” and “Protector.” Recorded again with Kenny McWilliams at Archer Avenue Studio and mastered by Dave Harris, the album is the continuation of Petrov’s mix of energy, dynamics, and thoughtfulness in what is the most complete collection of songs they’ve assembled to date. Their album release show is Friday, May 2nd at Snug Harbor with Moving Boxes and Mudlotus. Tickets Here!!
Petrov opens their upcoming self-titled album with an energetic anthem that channels existential confusion into pure sonic catharsis. “Someone Else” kicks off with a gripping guitar riff, slides into a punchy E power chord, and carries a surging momentum through tight hooks and an emotionally raw vocal delivery.
Lyrically, it’s a brutally honest reflection on the overwhelming pressures of early adulthood—balancing creativity, ambition, and the desperate need for rest. Lead singer Mary Grace delivers lines like “There’s got to be someone else for me,” with aching sincerity, perfectly capturing the inner dialogue of self-doubt and identity crisis.
Born from a blend of post-punk influence (shoutout to the band Shame) and a two-year creative incubation, this track sets the tone for the album’s emotional arc—starting with kinetic energy before diving deeper into introspection.
If “Someone Else” is the breakdown, “Nonzero” is the breakthrough. With layered arpeggios, a pounding chorus, and a lyrical mantra—“I’m more than a shell of the past”—Petrov’s “Nonzero” signals a turning point, both musically and thematically.
It’s a track about shaking off paralysis, confronting hard truths, and reclaiming forward momentum. Mary Grace’s vocals soar in dynamic waves, bolstered by precise instrumentation that ebbs and crashes with deliberate force.
Guitarists Sid and Mike balance texture and rhythm with fluid chemistry, while the rhythm section keeps everything grounded and urgent. The band describes this one as a kind of “sequel” to “Someone Else,” marking the emotional evolution from self-pity to self-empowerment. It’s a bold statement—full of guts, grit, and just the right amount of defiance
Slowing things down but cutting no corners emotionally, “Shift In You” is a simmering slow-burn that spotlights Petrov’s range.
Anchored by Garrett’s steady, almost hypnotic backbeat, the song unpacks the quiet disintegration of a relationship, where silence speaks louder than arguments. The track’s magic lies in its spaciousness—giving Mary Grace room to stretch out long, aching vocal lines that hover over brooding chords and melancholy textures.
Bassist Matt takes the lead on guitar for this one, offering a subtle but resonant melody that swirls underneath the narrative. The bridge, with its haunting repetition and dramatic lift, feels like the emotional climax of the entire record. “Do you even notice the pain, or just the shift between me and you?” is the kind of line that stays with you—heavy, poetic, and painfully human.
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