Features : 3rd Borough Sinks Its Teeth Into the Season with New Single

San Diego, CA – Emerging from San Diego’s ocean cliffs with a genre-bending sound, 3rd Borough is preparing to unleash their new single "Blood Like Yours" on September 25, 2025, ahead of their full-length album The Human Quest. Backed by a Halloween-themed documentary and vampire-inspired visuals, the track positions the band at the intersection of indie pop rock, hip-hop grit, and cinematic storytelling

First conceived in 2015, "Blood Like Yours" began as a late-night idea between band founders Justin Werner and Apaulo8 (Paul Kipling). "This song was actually written back in 2015. Paul was living down in Imperial Beach, and I was in Claremont. We decided to create a Halloween-themed trilogy. The first song we came up with was ‘Blood Like Yours’," says Werner. The writing process was fast and instinctive: "The song pretty much wrote itself in about 45 minutes," he recalls.

While originally born from electronic beats and a minimalist setup, the track has since evolved into a fully realized band performance. "Over time, it evolved into this indie-pop-rock sound," Werner explains. Each member of 3rd Borough added their own layers: Mark Boyce infuses blues and gospel textures; bassist Ibo Rodriguez, who studied music formally in Puerto Rico, brings a wide-ranging perspective as an engineer exposed to all styles of music; Apaulo8 contributes hip-hop and rap elements; guitarist Dono Fox (Donovan) brings technical precision; and the group’s drummer, Arkhota (Argel Cota), lends versatile rhythms. "It’s a melting pot of influences that make the sound unique," Werner notes.

For Apaulo8, the track’s energy stems from balance: "Music for us is about yin and yang. We want positive messages, but we also embrace darkness. That balance lets us make something edgy yet lighthearted. For Blood Like Yours, we drew from influences like The Lost Boys movie. Something fun but haunting, appealing to kids and adults alike."

The band’s vision extends beyond the audio. "Blood Like Yours" arrives with a vampire-themed video and a Halloween documentary. "It covers the whole process: how we created the music video, interviews with band members, the making of the album, and behind-the-scenes footage," says Apaulo8. For Werner, the vampire theme was an opportunity to refresh a timeless archetype: "Vampires have been portrayed as romantic, monstrous, murderous, it’s evolved. With Blood Like Yours, we leaned toward a romantic take. It’s basically a love song in a Halloween costume."

Though "Blood Like Yours" may serve as a seasonal anthem, the band stresses that their forthcoming album, The Human Quest, expands far beyond it. "The Human Quest is about the ups and downs of being human. ‘Blood Like Yours’ stood out. It felt powerful, like a hit, so we pushed it as a single. The album itself spans many genres because some songs were written 10–15 years ago," Apaulo8 explains. Werner adds that the project reflects intuition more than formulas: "We believe in divine timing. Unlike bands that write 50 songs and pick 12, we wrote around 20 and chose the best by intuition."

Even as they push forward, the band embraces the highlights of their creative journey. For Apaulo8, it’s "the final product, after all the revisions, making everyone happy, hearing that polished version." For Werner, it’s the connection with fans: "For me, it’s when someone hears the finished song for the first time and appreciates it. That’s why we do this, because music can inspire others."

With 'The Human Quest' on the horizon, 3rd Borough hopes listeners find both individuality and unity in their songs. "We want it to be personal, yet unifying," says Werner. "Everyone feels something different, but we all move to the same rhythm. That’s the beauty of music."

About 3rd Borough

From San Diego’s moonlit cliffs, 3rd Borough crafts a potent blend of indie pop rock and hip-hop’s raw edge. Founded in Ocean Beach, the six-member collective, comprising Justin Werner, Apaulo8 (Paul Kipling), Ibo Rodriguez, Mark Boyce, Arkhota (Argel Cota), and Dono Fox (Donovan), weaves anthems of longing and rebellion. Their sound fuses soaring melodies with gritty beats, drawing on a diverse range of influences. Their upcoming single, "Blood Like Yours" (September 25, 2025), serves as a prelude to their album, The Human Quest, and a Halloween 2025 documentary. A nocturnal tribe with sharp lyrics and haunting melodies, 3rd Borough beckons audiences worldwide on all major streaming platforms.

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