The Penguin Rocks logo
The Penguin Rocks Menu


Crooked Teeth Releases “Hallelujah (Wish I Never Knew Ya)”

originally published: 08/27/2021

Crooked Teeth Releases “Hallelujah (Wish I Never Knew Ya)”

California based alternative pop artist Crooked Teeth has released the music video for his recent single titled “Hallelujah (Wish I Never Knew Ya).” The undeniable alt-pop anthem, resembles a beautiful collision of self-titled era blink-182 and The Chainsmokers. The new single was produced and mixed by Matt Malpass (Machine Gun Kelly, trippie redd, blink-182).

On the new single he shares, "Hallelujah (Wish I Never Knew Ya)" is a song about liberating one's self from the emotional baggage that comes with let downs, heartbreak and the internal struggle to find inner peace."

Even though he trades in energetic, best-when-played-loud pop-rock, CROOKED TEETH frontman Tyson Evans has learned that sometimes it’s best to let silence lead the way.

“I started making the drive from Santa Cruz down to LA to write songs last year,” Evans says. “I loved driving because it let me be in my head and block out the noise. I wouldn’t even listen to a podcast or music. I’d just sit in silence with myself and come to peace with things in life.”

There’s seemingly no shortage of things to think over in today’s modern world, and since forming in 2016 (first as a full band and later morphing into a solo project), Crooked Teeth has mused on many of them – with his heart fully on his sleeve, packaging emotional heft and life’s big challenges into shiny, anthemic emo-tinged songs.



 
Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



A back catalog including 2018’s Rude Records debut Honey, 2019’s Where Did All Our Time Go?, and self-released singles like “Plight” and “Light Me Up” (written with Four Year Strong’s Alan Day) have garnered multiple millions of Spotify streams, and fans across the country have seen Evans making noise – and a name for himself – on Audiotree as well as stages with This Wild Life, Emo Nite LA, Hot Mulligan, and Grayscale.

Now, with his brand-new single, “Hallelujah (Wish I Never Knew Ya),” Crooked Teeth is entering his most fully realized musical era yet. Combining the percussive buoyancy of blink-182’s heyday with the spirit of classic emo and elastic, modern production, “Hallelujah (Wish I Never Knew Ya)” is a skyscraping slice of pop that tackles a well-trod lyrical road – but with far more maturity than many of the genre’s torchbearers were known for.

“It’s about letting go, finally being able to move past the negativity of a failed relationship,” he says of the track. “It’s not rooted in malice. Sometimes you just need to finally be at peace and clean the cobwebs out. As a queer, cis man, I don’t want to spend time or energy tearing people down. I always want to find a way to be self-reflective.”

It’s a welcome detour in a scene known for its fair share of vindictive one-liners, as Evans instead mines a similar emotional depth and nuance – not to mention sonic diversity – found on some of his favorite albums, seminal early 2000s releases like American Idiot and Bleed American. “I believe in a cohesive feel and consistent rock sound,” he begins. “But I don’t want to be held back by what people expect.”

That extends to both Crooked Teeth’s listeners and collaborators. Finally finding the freedom to chase his muse has been one of the most rewarding parts of downsizing the band – but it’s also one Evans admits at first came with a fair amount of trepidation.

“I was really scared to do it myself and say ‘this is what Crooked Teeth is,’” he explains. “But every day I feel more and more excited. I always feel insecure about physical stuff, even something like walking straight. The only time I really feel comfortable being totally active and secure in my footing is when I’m onstage playing music. This just feels right.”



 
Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info




 

COLUMNS


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "A New Year's Lullaby" by The New Bardots

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "A New Year's Lullaby," the latest single from Bongo Boy Records act The New Bardots.




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 01/02/2026




This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from December 30 to January 5, 2025




Makin Waves Song of the Year: "My Best" by The Well Wish






 

MORE NEWS

(RAHWAY, NJ) -- New Jersey resident and former Angela Bofill Manager Rich Engel is teaming up with old friend and fellow Jersey resident Will Downing this Valentine's Day (Saturday, February 14, 2026), with a love fest not to be forgotten at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway.


Lizzie Rose Music Room presents James Maddock




Albert Music Hall presents its annual Winter Hootenanny in the Pines




State Theatre presents Tusk: The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute




The Smithereens LIVE! at The Vogel






 

UPCOMING SHOWS


Start the New Year with Rikki Lee Wilson's Taylor Swift Tribute at The Broadway Theatre of Pitman

(PITMAN, NJ) -- The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents Love Story – A Tribute to Taylor Swift from January 2-4, 2026. The show starring Rikki Lee Wilson brings the ultimate Taylor Swift concert experience and has wowed audiences nationwide.


Albert Music Hall presents its annual Winter Hootenanny in the Pines




Lizzie Rose Music Room presents James Maddock




bergenPAC presents The Band Perry on January 11th






Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info


The Penguin Rocks

© 2026 by Wine Time Media, LLC
PO Box 811, Belmar, NJ 07719
[email protected]

Presented by New Jersey Stage

Images used on this site have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us and we will look into the matter.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our NJ Stage accounts on Instagram, and Threads


News | Features | Radio Shows | Penguin's Hall of Fame | Song of the Week | BlowUpRadio column

Contact Us | About Us | Submit Music | Ad Rates