Exit Might Be Alt Rock’s Best-Kept Secret With New England

Exit is an enigma. They’re not in the limelight—even by indie standards—but their résumé suggests otherwise. Comprised of Andrew Manning, TJ Piccirillo, and William Tenney, all hailing from New England, Exit is punching well above their weight. A quick scroll through their Spotify page reveals a long list of decorated collaborators. Trevor Daniel, known for his viral hit “Falling,” appears on Exit’s top track, “In The Morning,” alongside Grammy-winner Imanbek. And more recently, on their latest album New England, Billy Martin of Maryland punk group Good Charlotte guests on Undone. 

“Billy is really special,” Manning says, reflecting on the “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” guitarist. “He’s so down-to-earth and humble.” 

“I remember he had a broken hand when we started working on the song, but he still wanted to track the guitar solo. Pretty rock and roll,” Piccirillo adds. 

Yet, for most of New England, Exit proves they can do it all on their own. Almost entirely self-produced by Manning, the album opens with its title track, a three-minute dive into emo-pop and traditional alternative rock. From there, the listener is off—riding highs like “Whiplash” and reflecting thoughtfully on ballads like “Place In Time.” 

Album cuts like “Sugar Pill” and “Toxic Paradise” are welcomed pit stops, with simple but weighty lyrics covering the usual themes of nostalgia, self-reflection, and identity. Even so, something about Exit’s delivery feels fresh. While listening, you get the sense they’re finally at peace with the universe. 

“Sometimes I’m undone, and that’s enough,” Exit sings on track 11, offering new perspective for a genre famously rooted in angst. 

It’s also worth noting that “Exit” is only the trio’s moniker after dark. By day, Manning works as a senior producer at one of Manhattan’s top production houses, Piccirillo is a graphic designer, and Tenney heads SunPop, the band’s label and management company. In one press photo, Piccirillo can be seen proudly wearing a SunPop cap, as if it’s his favorite team’s jersey. Maybe it is. 

“SunPop is a gang!” the company will post sporadically on social media, perhaps poking fun at early-aughts bands who sported similar slogans. 

“I worked so hard to build this,” Tenney says, disregarding the tongue-in-cheek tagline. “SunPop is everything I love in one place: the sun, family, music, and the good life.” 

“There’s something really special about our friendship. From the first day we met, all we talked about—and all we wanted to talk about—was music. I finally had someone to connect with,” Manning reflects.

“I’m really grateful,” Piccirillo adds. 

“The three of us have committed our lives to the game, in one way or another” Tenney concludes, sounding like a battle-tested veteran. “I know that doesn’t mean we’ll be massive; but it means we were right.” So, despite the occasional cliché, Exit exudes authenticity. They’re real in a way that isn’t tailored for TikTok—though that could work for them too. “I guess we made it,” Manning sings earnestly on track five. “[We] got everything we wanted in the end.” And listening to New England just might make you feel that way too.

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