After years of building their sound on stage, Push & Turn are showing just how far reggae fusion can stretch. The Minnesota band’s second album, Chillin, Mn, brings together nearly two decades of live experience with a willingness to experiment, and “Not This Time” is one of the clearest examples of them stepping outside the expected.
Formed in 2009 and based between Rochester and Minneapolis, Push & Turn have developed their own take on reggae rock by bringing funk, blues, and jam influences into the mix. Their music is built to feel good live, something they have had plenty of time to perfect through performances at venues and festivals across the Midwest, including more than ten appearances at Shangri-La Music Festival. They have also shared stages with acts ranging from Smash Mouth and Mihali to Minnesota favorites Wookiefoot and The Big Wu.
With Chillin, Mn, however, the band wanted to see where else that familiar sound could go.
“Not This Time” brings an almost indie-pop quality into Push & Turn’s reggae foundation, making it one of the album’s more unexpected turns. That experimentation runs throughout the wider record. “Drift Away” moves into Pink Floyd-inspired territory, “Only One” brings a psychedelic edge, while “Give It Away” even briefly leans towards country.
Elsewhere, the album connects directly to the band’s history. “Stand Up” has been part of their live performances for close to 20 years and often closes their shows, while “Blue Sky” has evolved alongside them for a similar period. Newer tracks, including the title song “Chillin” sit beside those longtime favorites, bringing different eras of Push & Turn together on one record.
That history makes Chillin, Mn more than simply a collection of new material. Following their 2023 debut, Rise Up, the album captures how Push & Turn have grown as musicians and friends without abandoning the upbeat energy at the heart of the band.
“Not This Time” may push Push & Turn into slightly different territory, but that is exactly what Chillin, Mn is about: keeping the foundations that have worked for years while finding somewhere new to take them.
The album’s willingness to experiment gives Push & Turn an opportunity to show that their reggae roots can support far more than one particular sound. Rather than staying within a fixed formula, the band uses Chillin, Mn to explore different influences while maintaining the energy and musicianship developed through years of performing together.
That approach becomes particularly clear across the album’s different tracks. “Not This Time” introduces an almost indie-pop quality, while “Drift Away” moves toward Pink Floyd-inspired territory. “Only One” adds a psychedelic edge, and “Give It Away” briefly explores country. Each shift adds another dimension to the record while allowing the band’s established reggae foundation to remain present.
The band’s long history also gives those experiments a sense of context. Push & Turn have been performing together since 2009, developing their sound through years of live shows throughout the Midwest. More than ten appearances at Shangri-La Music Festival alone highlight the extent to which live performance has been part of their journey.
Sharing stages with artists including Smash Mouth and Mihali, as well as Minnesota favorites Wookiefoot and The Big Wu, has further placed the band within a diverse live music environment. That experience has helped shape a group comfortable with bringing different influences into its music without losing the connection that makes its songs work on stage.
The relationship between older and newer material is another important part of Chillin, Mn. “Stand Up” has remained part of Push & Turn’s live performances for close to 20 years and often serves as the closing song at their shows. “Blue Sky” has similarly evolved alongside the band over a comparable period.
Placing those longtime favorites alongside newer material such as “Chillin” gives the album a sense of history. Listeners are not simply hearing where Push & Turn are now; they are hearing different stages of the band’s development brought together in one place.
Following their 2023 debut, Rise Up, the second album represents another step forward for the group. The years between those releases have allowed Push & Turn to continue developing as musicians and friends, while their core approach remains rooted in the upbeat energy that has defined their performances.
The result is an album that feels comfortable looking in multiple directions at once. It acknowledges the songs and experiences that have shaped Push & Turn while leaving enough room for new ideas to emerge.
“Not This Time” may push Push & Turn into slightly different territory, but that is exactly what Chillin, Mn is about: keeping the foundations that have worked for years while finding somewhere new to take them.
