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Wendy's releases six-song emo album featuring metalcore and pop-punk vocalists
Wendy's released a six-song emo album on September 23, 2026, featuring vocalists from bands including Memphis May Fire, Silverstein, and blessthefall. Produced by multi-platinum producer Matt Squire in partnership with Rise Records, the album blends Wendy's menu items with emo and pop-punk themes, resonating with fans of the genre and those nostalgic for late-night fast-food culture.
Quick Facts
- Released six-track emo album
- Updated brand logo with emo aesthetic
- Collaborated with established emo and metalcore vocalists
- Produced album with high-quality production values (not AI-generated)
- Released music videos for featured tracks



Wendy's released a six-track emo album titled "Songs to Listen to in a Wendy's Parking Lot" on September 23, 2026, marking the fast-food chain's second major music project following its 2018 hip-hop mixtape "We Beefin'?". The album was produced in collaboration with Rise Records and features vocalists from established emo, metalcore, and pop-punk bands including Memphis May Fire, Anberlin, Silverstein, blessthefall, State Champs, Winona Fighter, and Holy Wars.
Multi-platinum producer and songwriter Matt Squire—known for work with Panic! at the Disco, Ariana Grande, and One Direction—wrote and produced each track. The six songs blend fast-food menu items with emo and pop-punk themes: "She Said She Didn't Want Fries" (featuring Matty Mullins), "Salt in the Wound" (featuring Chloe Kinnon), "I Miss the Sunroom" (featuring Shane Told), "The Best Combo Meal on the Worst Night of My Life" (featuring Beau Bokan), "It's Not a Phase, It's a 10pc" (featuring Derek DiScanio), and "My Frosty's Funeral" (featuring Kat Leon). Lyrics reference Wendy's menu items and nostalgic late-night parking lot experiences, with lines such as "Always Fresh, Never Frozen" and "Parking lots and Frosty spoons will get me over you."
Wendy's teased the project on social media September 22 by updating its iconic red-haired logo with an asymmetrical side-swept style, black eyeliner, and black hair bows—visual markers associated with early 2000s emo culture. The rebrand sparked significant social media engagement, including a notable exchange where a user commented "She's going through a phase" and Wendy's replied "IT'S NOT A PHASE."
According to a Wendy's statement, the album taps into a broader cultural resurgence of emo and pop-punk. Matt Squire noted: "Emo has always been about the small moments that feel huge. A younger generation is discovering that now, and the older fans never stopped feeling it. Enjoying a Wendy's Frosty in a parking lot might sound like a small moment, but everybody's had a night where that was the only thing that went right."
The album is available on major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, iTunes, YouTube Music, Tidal, and Audiomack. The project has drawn positive responses from both emo fans and established bands; metalcore group Motionless in White commented on the album's Instagram debut: "We were really hoping for album of the year, but there is absolutely no competing with this."
Wendy's has previously engaged with music and metal culture; in 2019, the chain participated in National Roast Day with humorous commentary targeting several metal and emo bands including Memphis May Fire and State Champs—both of whom now participate in the current album.
Why This Matters
This project represents a significant cross-category marketing collaboration between a major fast-food chain and the emo/metalcore music community, released on a specific date (September 23, 2026) across multiple streaming platforms. The album features established commercial artists and a multi-platinum producer, demonstrating resource investment in music partnerships. Wendy's previous music project (2018 hip-hop mixtape) shows sustained commitment to branded music content. The social media engagement metrics and positive peer responses from established bands (e.g., Motionless in White's comment) indicate measurable cultural impact within niche music communities. The project also reflects broader commercial interest in early-2000s emo/pop-punk cultural resurgence, affecting how legacy entertainment and food brands engage younger and nostalgia-driven demographics.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2018
WireWendy's released hip-hop mixtape 'We Beefin'?'
Jan 1, 2019
WireWendy's participated in National Roast Day with commentary on metal and emo bands
Sep 22, 2026
WireWendy's teased emo album by updating logo with asymmetrical hair, black eyeliner, and black bows
Sep 23, 2026
WireWendy's released 'Songs to Listen to in a Wendy's Parking Lot' across streaming platforms
Sources
- Wendy's releases new emo album with metalcore, pop punk vocalistsUSA TodayMediaSep 23, 2026
- Fast-Food Chain Wendy's Enlist Silverstein, Blessthefall, Memphis May Fire, Etc. Members For New Emo EPTheprp.comMediaSep 23, 2026
- We Heard The Wendy's Emo Album - You Just Might Recognize the Vocalists on These Hilarious SongsLoudwireMediaSep 23, 2026
- Wendy’s Drops an Emo Album: “Songs to Listen to in a Wendy’s Parking Lot”Wendy'sMediaSep 23, 2026
- Wendy’s Unleashes Emo EP with a Bunch of Notable Emo Singers: StreamConsequence of SoundMediaSep 23, 2026