When North of Nine driving force Jackson Guthy was a kid, his mom delivered a piece of wisdom that has informed everything he does to this day. “She said, ‘Your ladder extends to the moon, but it’s up to you to make the climb. When you get there and you’re able to see the view, it’s going to be amazing,’” Guthy recalls. The visual of a ladder to the moon struck Guthy so profoundly that he got an image of it tattooed on his forearm. Now that positive, uplifting message radiates from the music the 18-year-old Los Angeles native is making with his band, North of Nine, which has just released its debut single, the emotionally resonant piano ballad “We Ride.”

“The song is about getting perspective on what’s bothering you so you can be happy in the moment whatever it is,” he says. He adds that it doubles as a metaphor for not running away from life, but instead putting something out there that’s better.

“We Ride” is a bold musical statement, given that it shows a softer side of North of Nine, a five-piece rock band that is rounded out by drummer Rob Ketchum, guitarist Michael O’Grady, bassist Edison Lo, and keyboardist Nolan Frank, each of whom hail from different parts of the United States. Guthy formed the band in the spring and the guys have been in the studio ever since working on songs for their upcoming independently released debut album.