When I was very young, we had an electric Yamaha keyboard that had 100 different effects and a bunch of preset loop beats. I remember playing a “Rockin’ Loop 5” or some shit, and my brain trotting out an impromptu vocal line and melody. It was probably hot garbage, but it might have been the first time I realized that anyone can make music. When you’re young you see all these larger-than-life pop stars and assume that they are superheros with God-given talent. That little keyboard made me realize I could do it too. - Ryan Maier, vocalist
The question for me isn’t “when I knew I wanted to make music” because that was never a question. I always wanted to make music. The question was “how can I make music?” and the answer to that question was “do what others aren’t”. And that was playing bass. I knew early that if I ever wanted to do more than just play crappy covers at a coffee shop with Ryan, I wouldn’t necessarily have to be good at what I do, but be the only option. And 20 years later, I’m still the only option. - Lucas Holt, bassist
I still remember the first time I plugged an electric guitar into an amp and turned it on. It was as if I plugged the guitar straight into my brain. A switch turned on inside me that I still can’t toggle off. I had discovered a love for music which led me to explore all sorts of different instruments. However, it wasn't until the piano that I found one that calmed me. - Keenan Gregory, pianist
I'm lucky to say I've been surrounded by music my whole life. Both of my grandmas were piano teachers, and everyone in my family could play at least one instrument and sing the appropriate harmonies out of our church's hymnal. Like the rest of the family, I took lessons with my grandma from the young age of 3 or 4. The key moment for me was when my brother started a rock band with his friends, I think I was around 12 or 13 at the time. I tagged along to as many of their shows as I could. I knew then that's what I wanted to do with my life and haven't stopped pursuing it since. - Joel Jeschke, drummer
When I was 11 years old, I was bitten by a radioactive rockstar… At the time I knew nothing about music or playing an instrument. Shortly after the bite, I was gifted an electric guitar. I ended up going through my dad’s CD collection and found a love for 80s heavy metal and I was obsessed. So obsessed that I would sit for hours and hours on my bedroom floor trying to teach myself what I was hearing on the ghetto blaster. I would rewind each part over and over again until I could find each note to piece together into something that I probably thought sounded good at the time. It probably didn’t. I eventually developed a better ear and was trying to learn as much as I could cram into my kid brain every day. I would put candles and lava lamps all over my room to put concerts on for my parents. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica and Guns n’ Roses were my favourites at the time. I started writing songs when I was 12 and almost 20 years later I’m still obsessed, and get to do it with my friends and share it with the world. Thanks for biting me, radioactive rockstar guy. - Brandon Yaggey, guitarist
The question for me isn’t “when I knew I wanted to make music” because that was never a question. I always wanted to make music. The question was “how can I make music?” and the answer to that question was “do what others aren’t”. And that was playing bass. I knew early that if I ever wanted to do more than just play crappy covers at a coffee shop with Ryan, I wouldn’t necessarily have to be good at what I do, but be the only option. And 20 years later, I’m still the only option. - Lucas Holt, bassist
I still remember the first time I plugged an electric guitar into an amp and turned it on. It was as if I plugged the guitar straight into my brain. A switch turned on inside me that I still can’t toggle off. I had discovered a love for music which led me to explore all sorts of different instruments. However, it wasn't until the piano that I found one that calmed me. - Keenan Gregory, pianist
I'm lucky to say I've been surrounded by music my whole life. Both of my grandmas were piano teachers, and everyone in my family could play at least one instrument and sing the appropriate harmonies out of our church's hymnal. Like the rest of the family, I took lessons with my grandma from the young age of 3 or 4. The key moment for me was when my brother started a rock band with his friends, I think I was around 12 or 13 at the time. I tagged along to as many of their shows as I could. I knew then that's what I wanted to do with my life and haven't stopped pursuing it since. - Joel Jeschke, drummer
When I was 11 years old, I was bitten by a radioactive rockstar… At the time I knew nothing about music or playing an instrument. Shortly after the bite, I was gifted an electric guitar. I ended up going through my dad’s CD collection and found a love for 80s heavy metal and I was obsessed. So obsessed that I would sit for hours and hours on my bedroom floor trying to teach myself what I was hearing on the ghetto blaster. I would rewind each part over and over again until I could find each note to piece together into something that I probably thought sounded good at the time. It probably didn’t. I eventually developed a better ear and was trying to learn as much as I could cram into my kid brain every day. I would put candles and lava lamps all over my room to put concerts on for my parents. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica and Guns n’ Roses were my favourites at the time. I started writing songs when I was 12 and almost 20 years later I’m still obsessed, and get to do it with my friends and share it with the world. Thanks for biting me, radioactive rockstar guy. - Brandon Yaggey, guitarist
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