Stef White oral history interview recording

So today's January 13, 2023. My name is Kevin. I'll be talking today with Stef White. He's the vocalist for Houston-based post-hardcore band War Within Dreams.

So, thanks so much for taking the time out of your day today. Oh, welcome. I'm happy to be here. So, before we get into, like the real meat of the interview, I'd

just like to ask a few questions about your early musical experiences. So growing up, did you grow up in, like, a musical family? Like, what's your musical background? Yeah, I guess you could say that, yeah.

My–my family, super big on music. I mean, I grew up listening to a lot of records and stuff. My uncle is actually a drummer and my pops used to play, like, trumpet and stuff, so I was, you know, around instruments and music most of my

life. To like get into it, I just, you know, I know that growing up, like, you know, music through a lot of stuff, you know, so I turned, like, 14 years

old and I was listening to a record and I just remember one day I was, like, watching. It's like MTV, like, pop-up video or, I don't know, something like way back 20—this was 20 years ago, okay?

And I saw, like, Stevie Ray Vaughan playing the guitar and then, like, the–the Ramones and, like, the Sex Pistols and, like, just I got super into like old school punk. And then I was like, "You know what? I want to pick up the guitar." So I–I picked up the guitar at 14

and started playing at 14. Sorry, I'm going off of the question you [laughs] asked but–but yeah, you know, yeah. Like, I would say that I came from a pretty musically backgrounded family, you know, everybody's super appreciative of music and

especially dancing, let me tell you [laughs]. My parents love to dance [laughs]. So you mentioned bands like the Sex Pistols, the Ramones—

Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah—like—yeah, the old school punk bands that I grew up listening to, you know, those, including like The Unseen Global Threat, you know, the Distillers was a big thing for me, and Rancid was a big thing for me.

You know, all those bands really inspired me to, like, pick up the guitar and just–just express myself in a way that I couldn't when I was just talking, you know. [KC: Yeah.] Or like, you know, I just felt like, you know, growing

up, you know, like I grew up in Alief, you know, and, you know, sometimes it got a little rough out there. But I feel like, you know, my best years were those years considering, you know, that music really got me through all that,

and especially punk music, like, just I was super into the heavy punk stuff and played a lot of battle of the bands and stuff. I started my first band—my first punk band—when I was 14, actually. And I did that for a few years, you

know–you know, as we grow up and stuff like that too, like our musical tastes like change, you know, and like they develop and, like, back then, like things were, you know, like we had metal and then there was like post-hardcore started to be a thing and, like you know, hardcore and, like, just all these other genres started

popping up that I had no idea existed. And, like, so I just started like learning about all these other genres and I got super into—I was like, you know, I really love the, you know, yelling and punk stuff, and I was like, but I also really like the heavy screaming stuff.

But then, I'll have days where I'm listening Dave Matthews Band in like [laughs] you know, like, you know, just, you know, I jump from—I'd like to say I have a–a very eclectic taste in music so that helps, you know, like, just being more open to, like, hearing and different styles

and–and stuff like that. And–and by the time I turned 15, I joined a new band called Since the Ashes, and they were, man, they were like–they were like, eclectic, new

metal? I can't even really tell you. They had like, breakdowns and then, there was parts where I was singing and then, there was, like, parts that were very, like, Mexican influenced like, like "do da do da da dum da doo," like that kind of stuff, you know?

And I recorded my first LP with that band at 16. That was a ten-song LP. We got pretty, pretty far with that and played a lot of, like, sold-out shows at, like, Fitzgerald's, I don't know if you remember Fitzgerald's, it used to be a

pretty big venue here in Houston, over in Studemont area, like Studewood and White Oak. And that-that's actually the venue where I saw, like, all my favorite punk bands when I was, like, younger.

So, like, to go back there and like, play the same big stage upstairs and like sell out the same venue. Like it was just like, yo like okay, cool. Tha-that's like, that was a goal, right?

By the time I turned—I was with that band for a few years. We were together for a while, played a lot of out-of-town shows, did a little–little tours here and there. You know, unfortunately, things happen.

We went our separate ways. I–I took that opportunity upon myself to join a heavier band. I was like 19 or something at this time and it was called the Fight Scene and that band was

just straight hardcore, like all screaming. Like if I sang, it was probably for like 5 seconds and then everything else was just hella breakdowns. I did a record with them.

I did an EP with them. Also, things happen, right? I—so, with that band was actually really cool, we had the opportunity to—we won this contest called the–the Rockstar

Energy, like, Tour or something like that. This is whenever they were doing little tours around the US and they were bringing huge bands like–like Atreyu. So–so–so we played—we won the contest and we play—got to play at

the San Antonio Freeman Coliseum, in front of thousands of kids and we got to share the stage with Atreyu, Avenged Sevenfold, Dir En Grey, BlesstheFall, all great bands, super cool people. That was my first Coliseum show at like 19 and

that—to this day, probably, like, my biggest one yet. Right now [laughs]. But, you know, that was one hell of a experience and super great people. You know, that was just another journey, another stepping stone in my–in my

life with music. And, so after that, you know, like, I was still into the, you know, heavy, you know. But, now I'm getting to this point right where I'm like, "okay, but I kind of like,

you know, the more chill stuff, too." Like, I like the singing, you know. I really do like the singing and I feel like my singing had a lot of potential then, but I kind of underestimated it. And I just—I was so—everybody was, we were all so fixated on the fact that I was

just—have this crazy cat scream. People like to call it a "cat scream," you know? And I'm just like, "Oh, man, how am I going to stray away from this? " It's just going to be one crazy transition because I'm so well-known from screaming and

like punk and metal and stuff. So, how am I going to make this transition? Right? So I–I had–I had taken a little break from the singing and I was like, I mean, from the

screaming. And I did some guitar, you know, in a band called Flawlessly Inadequate. It was an all-female band and it was me, one—it was, well, mostly female, so it was me—one guy—me and another guy, Juan, the other girl—o-other three girls

were all females and that was like an electronic, like an industrial—like if I want to say, if like Korn and The Birthday Massacre had a baby or something like that, it was something like that, right? Did that for a little while with those chicks . At

the same time, that's when I got super heavy into singer-songwriter stuff. So, I picked up an acoustic guitar and I just started busting out acoustic songs. I would just sit in like wherever I could find quiet,

you know? At the time, I was living with my pop, so the only place that was quiet—because we lived in this little duplex in–in the Heights, and the only place that was quiet was our laundry room in the backyard. So, I would just go downstairs and like, lock myself in the laundry room for like 2

hours at, like one in the morning [laughs] and just go ham and start writing stuff. So I do have a SoundCloud, SoundCloud.com /StefWhite, and I do have all my like acoustic stuff on there. It's very like personal stuff.

It's all self-recorded in my bedroom or you know, s-something like that. And just—it was another way for me to express myself singing instead of screaming, you know? And whenever I started doing that, I did a bunch of open mic nights, you know, I made

that a whole thing for like a couple of years. Then one day I was like, you know, like I want to be in another band, joined a band called Mercy that was like post-hardcore. It was two vocalists.

It was me. I was doing all the screaming. And then my buddy Ashley, we call her Thrashley, she was doing the singing and that was a very like We Came as Romans meets Paramore type style, like super groovy, you know,

great guys. A-a-all the people I've always—or all the people, I've been in bands with over the years have all been super great people, super talented. I'm still cool with a lot of them still.

And, you know, we never—you know, I've never left any band on, like, bad terms, like, you know. It's like, it's like a family, you know, like you have—you're–you're in your band and like, you're like brothers and sisters and stuff.

Like you're going to have your days where you're going to butt heads and–and things like this. But at the end of the day, you know, if you're all on the same page, it's– it's all good, you know? And I feel like, you know, as you're growing up, you know,

everybody's trying to figure out what they want, you know, and what they want to do and–and who they want to do it with. Because this is like something that like, you know, you're putting a lot of time and a lot of money and a lot of love and sweat and tears, like

you're–you're really going in and putting this project together. And so, did that for a little while. Then I decided—like look, see, for me, just saying it out loud, it's like, yeah, growing up, I went through this whole trial and error of like, okay, where is my

sound? Like, what do I want to do and how do I want to g row from said sound and stay there, not become stagnant and then fall off and try to do something else, but stay in one place and try to build off it, but I need to be where I need to be, right

? So, left that band [laughs] and then I have these buddies, Albert and Paul, who I'm in the band with now . And I met them around this time and super cool guys. Like, we had started a project back in the day together, recorded an

EP in a U-Haul rental garage. Yeah, the guy that we were working with, he was recording out of a U-Haul rental garage and you know, a little sketch, but [laughs] but. [KC: How–how did that work, like.] Yeah.

So like [KC: He had everything in?] He had everything in this rental garage, Like he just rented a U-Haul space and then he had his whole studio set up, like busted in the corner. And then he had another section of it where like, his band used to come and jam and stuff

and like, yeah, this dude, he's very creative guy. I don't even think he records anymore. But, when he was like—and maybe that's why it was in a U-Haul, you know [laughs], because it was temporary, you know, but also a cool dude. He

helped us record the—that—our–our heavy first—our first EP is our heaviest; that's available on Apple Music, Spotify or all that. But yeah, that–that early EP was mostly screaming, let me tell you.

That was when we were like in our heavy prime. And then we took—we had taken a-another turn and like right before—well, sorry, let me go back. So, this was like still when I was like, you know, my early twenties,

right? And then so fast forward, early thirties in between that time, you know, same thing. We kind of, you know, took a little break from each other, still hung out, still talked, still jammed.

But it wasn't like anything serious, like we were still trying to figure it out, right, still trying to write, see what we could do. There was a lot of lineup changes. We went through a few different members.

So, you know, that's always a trial-and-error thing. And then, you know, over time, it—within that time, I went back to doing the singer-songwriter stuff, right? So I—it was—I'm like, I'm going to incorporate singing one way or

another. I just need to find that perfect balance. Because for me, I feel like I get—I don't w ant to say—I don't know if bored is the right word, but I just, I lose feeling i-in–in certain—when I—I'm doing certain sounds.

Because for me, the music is not just about how it sounds. It's really about how I'm feeling and how the song is making me feel. Regardless if I'm writing it, recording it in that moment, I need to be able to listen to it three months later and still have that feeling, you know, like, "ooh, you

know, like, okay, man, that's a banger," [laughs], you know? But so, fast forward to now. You know, I—I'm with my guys, Albert and Paul and then we decided, you know what?

Like, you know, we–we had a meeting. We were like, you know what? Like. This is—wha-what–what does everybody want to do? Like, is this something that, you know, like this is—is this something we really want to

push? Like, is this something, you know, we really want to, you know, give to the world? Like, do we want to share this with the world? "Yeah." Everybody's like, "Yeah, we're–we're down. We want to do this." And then I express myself.

I'm like, okay, well, for me, I was like, the newer stuff. I was like, I want to take it in a new direction. I want to take—I want to go from this super heavy sound to a more melodic sound.

Like, I still want to keep some heavy in there. I don't want to completely take it away, but I want to add some, like some melodic ambient sounds, right? I'm a huge Deftones fan, so when it comes to like Deftones and

like Circa Survive and like these kind of bands, I just like, I really was trying to think like, okay, there's got to be a way to fuse how I'm feeling and thinking into–into music, right? So the boys, they–they play eight-string guitars,

so already it's going to be heavy, you know what I mean? Like, it's going to be heavy already. So—but we had recently—so we had recently got a new guitarist.

His name is Robert Martinez and super cool dude, super thankful to have him a part of the family as well. I feel like he was like the missing piece almost. You know, everybody's got very eclectic musical backgrounds and

we found our drummer Carlos, like right before COVID, and this is when we recorded "Sway," which is our newer song out of all of them, and is also kind of pointing everybody in the

direction of where we're trying to go. So that song, out of all of our songs, has the most singing in it, and less screaming, and it's just getting more developed as–as we're writing, as we're progressing.

You know, we dropped "Sway" and, you know, and then COVID happened. So like, it was super unfortunate that we had uh, you know, had this lineup and you know, recorded this song. Did a bunch of promos, like was–was ready to start just pushing, right?

Boom, the world shuts down. So when that happened, you know, that was a huge, huge setback, you know, a-and like—and that's out of our control, right? So, but that was just a super bummer.

But I feel like during that time, I feel like the band kind of needed that break. Maybe without saying we needed that break. Because we all really came back with a completely different mindset and just so i

nspired. Like I—I've just been—like, you know, and we were all going through our own personal stuff. You know, and getting through some hard times, you know? But man, we—somehow the universe just b rought us back

together. And was like, y'all need to figure something out. Y'all need to be together, right? And so we, you know, we're listening to "Sway." You know, we're like man, we didn't get to push the song very w—much, you know?

Um, so what can we do? What can we do to, like, get the hype going again while we write these new songs and–and–and all that, right? So 94.5 did a contest in November called Hometown

for the Holidays, and over hundreds and hundreds of b ands submitted to this contest. And the winner was to, was going to get—it was going to be ten—the top ten bands were going to get radio play for the–for

the entire month of December, right? So, we submitted "Sway" to this contest. And like I said, over hundreds of bands submitted. We made top 40 in the contest and

then we landed a online Instagram live interview with Alberta from 94.5 The Buzz, so that was cool. You know, some good opportunities there. Unfortunately, we didn't make top ten this year, but that's okay.

That just means we're going to have to do it next year, you know, and next year maybe the song will be even more radio-friendly, you know? But—oh, and our following would be up. So that's really the focus right now.

We're–we're right now, we're in pre-production, so we're writing. We've got–we've got three songs that are ready and we're going to be going back into the studio in February. So, there's going to be lots of new music come in.

The music videos—like we're–we're really busy right now, so we're really just trying to get some things going so we can start you know, touring and doing all that. But, you know, the biggest focus right now is just getting that new music out

there, sharing it with the world and trying to get a bigger following, you know, like networking, making new friends—like, you know, doing this right here, you know [laughs] meeting Kevin. But, you know, I feel like, I mean, it's a lot of work, you know, and–and–and

another thing too, coming back from COVID a nd being a part of this family, it's–it's a family, really. It just makes me realize, like, you know. Regardless of like how tough life can be and like

the things that we go through and the trials we go through on a daily basis and just having to you know, deal with different emotions that come and go and–and thoughts that come and go and how to really reflect that

onto something positive, you know, and–and this past year, I've learned a lot about patience and just being more understanding, you know, and–and—you know, I probably get that from my Filipino mama, okay [laughs].

But–but, yeah. So just being back with the family and stuff like that has been really great. And like I said, I feel like everybody came back with a fresh mindset. Everybody's got the same goals.

And–and like I said, again, we had got a new member, Robert, and he's really been like adding to the mix like hella and just the vibe is just right. Like I—I've been in multiple bands and projects, you know, obviously for most of my life and just being in this project.

I don't know. It's just something about it. Like, I just know, like–like we're going to do something with it. Something big. Whether it's touching people's hearts from across the world or whatever the case may

be, getting somebody through a breakup or whatever the case, you know? I really have a feeling like it's going to be a big–a big thing. And especially because of all of the you know, passion and love that we put into the—to the—to our music, you know, especially when it comes to

like writing, like, you know, we'll just sit in the—into—in the band rehearsal room for–for hours. Like we'll–we'll go through the set and then we'll just sit there for hours and just talk about, you know, the different goals and just like write just random

things to prepare ourselves for the next thing, you know. You know, joke around because you know, we're dumb [laughs], but super cool guys. But yeah. We—we've got a lot of cool stuff in the works right now, so that's going to be

really cool. And yeah, hopefully, I'm really hoping everybody's going to enjoy it. I mean, I know that a lot of people enjoy it. A lot of our OG fans you know, love the singing stuff.

They want to hear more of the singing stuff, you know? So that was something we really considered as well. And plus, for me too, like I was saying, I was like, I really enjoy the singing part.

I love screaming too, don't get me wrong. But, you know, I think the older I get, the more I appreciate being able to sing along to a song and–and truly understand what-what's going on

in the song. You know. I'm not saying that you can't do that with screaming and stuff, but it's an acquired taste, I feel like. Not everybody is into screaming and all that stuff. So I'm like, you know, how can I still be heavy but maybe have

singing, you know? So that's where we're at right now. You know, let's–let's try to keep it like, heavy and ambient. But–but I'm going to throw some singing over it, you know?

And—but yeah, I'm really excited. I'm really excited for you guys to hear it. Like I said, we're going to start recording our–our new single in February. So hopefully like March, April is when the first song will drop.

Yeah. Got it. Yeah, I listen to some of your stuff. I listen to "Sway." I like "Sway." You have really good vocals, man, I have to say. [SW: Thanks, Kevin.] Yeah, yeah.

Very, very, very impressive background. I did not know about the whole Rockstore—Rockstar tour thing. Oh, yeah. Rockstar Energy.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I didn't know you guys like won, like–like so, you know, being that, like, young, you know, like as a teen, I'm assuming at that—oh yeah, especially because Atreyu and—anyways, like when— [SW: Yeah, yeah, yeah.] That's, that's

a while ago. So, what was that like, you know, as like, as someone like pretty young, you know, and you're super into that music, what was it like talking to those guys and like, did it have some, you know, did you learn any lessons, any impact? Oh, yeah, for sure.

For sure. Um, man, uh. It's crazy. It's kind of crazy how the story goes, right? So–so before I was in The Fight Scene, I was in that band Since the Ashes, right? And it was like towards the end where I was transitioning.

And so these guys, The Fight Scene, they just ran it like we used to play shows with this band and they just randomly called me up one day and they were like, "Hey Stef, we just won this Rockstar Energy contest and our singer quit.

So can you–you, can you—do you want to sing for us? Basically?" And I was just like, "Yeah, man, I'm a fan of your music. So yeah, I'd be down," not thinking like R ockstar and it—like it didn't register in my head, like Rockstar Energy Drink, this contest, you know what I'm

saying? Like, "I'm just thinking like, oh, it's another like, show festival thing, whatever." They were like, "okay well, it's this weekend and you have one, like basically one day to learn six songs." And I'm like, "oh crap ." And mind you, like, this is a completely d ifferent genre.

You know what I mean? Like, I'm going from this eclectic like post—I don't even know—rock thing to–to hardcore like metal, right? And so, I mean, if you have a musical background and–and you can

differentiate the different genres of music, you know that, you know, these breakdowns can be very intricate in these heavier stuff, right? And like going between the highs and the lows and like, just the timing is crazy and just me never jamming with this band before.

Never, like, ha—I don't even know what kind of people they are when you're jamming, you know, like, I just know how they are as friends, you know, because we were all friends. So I'm like, "Sure. Like, I'll do this, you know, like, we'll have one day to practice the day before we

have to drive out to San Antonio. " I'm like, "Okay, cool." Still, mind you, I'm not registering that this is a Rockstar thing, right? And so we get there. I get to the–the studio space and they're like, "All right, you know, like, how-how's

the songs going?" We go through the set. It went fine. And then I'm like, "Okay, tell me more about this show, You know, like, what's going on with it?" They're like, "oh, well we, you know, entered Rockstar Energy Contest t

o play with these said bands and–and we got it." And I'm like, "Wait, what?! Wait, you didn't tell—hold on, we're playing at a Coliseum bro?" Like [laughs] tomorrow? They're like, "Yeah." And I'm like, "Oh, snap.

" And–and you know, I'm like, you know, I'm like 18 or you know, 17, 18 years old. Like, I'm young and like—and Atreyu was like, like I was just like, "Oh my God," like they were one of my favorite bands growing up too.

And–and Blessthefall, too. I really liked Blessthefall and—but just hearing about Atreyu and Avenged Sevenfold, I was already starstruck in that moment. I was like, "Wait, like you're–you're meaning to tell me like, I just got done

watching Lip Gloss and Black music video. I'm about to go play this [laughs] with them. " And–and they're like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah." I'm like "All right, all right, we've got to keep it cool. Got to keep cool." And so, you know, I learned the songs, man.

And in–in a day like, while they were driving out there, even in the van, I was just sitting there with my headphones. Just going over the songs over and over and over. I'm like, "I can't fuck this up." Oh, sorry [laughs].

But I can't mess this up, right? And I was just like, "I got to do this." So I'm like, nervous. I'm not going to lie. I never really got nervous. Like, ever since my first show in middle school.

Like, I just have never really gotten nervous, you know, like, before I hit the–hit the stage. I'll get a little anxiety, you know what I'm saying? But I'll just do my little ritual and like, you know, take deep breaths and, you

know, have my room temperature water [laughs] you know, things like this. So, yeah, so like. We're get—we're on our way. We get there and we get to the back, you know where all the–the fan—the buses

are. And, you know, at this point I didn't see anybody yet, right? So I'm just like looking at the dudes like, "Hey, y'all see anybody?" They're like, "Nah. " And like, we're trying to find the person running the thing. We find them, we check in.

Then they're like, okay, so, you know, you guys have this room and then they start b asically—"this room is Atreyu's, this room is—" [laughs] And we were just like, okay, [laughs] like, no big deal, bro. Like, and then, yeah, but anyway, so.

To an—t-to really answer your question, yeah, I was–I was really nervous. I'm not even going to lie. I was super nervous. But not–not only because these bands were like bands that I was like growing up

listening to, and I'm actually about to share this huge ass stage with them, but more so of the fact that, like, I was really going into this blind because I had never played a show with this band or–or any, done anything with this band, really.

So I—this was really like my first show with them too. And like having to learn all those songs within a day was just like, you know. So, we're like walking around the back, you know, just—everybody is like trying—everybody's like, staying together, right?

Because everybody doesn't like, know where to go or like who to talk to or what to do, right? I'm like, "No, man. Like, everybody break off, you know, like, go network. Go like, talk to somebody, go do something, right?"

And then so I'm like, "you know what? I'm going to go check out the stage, right?" And because, you know, mind you, it's soundcheck. There's nobody there. It's like during the day. And so, I'm walking towards–towards the back of the

stage. I go up there, I'm like looking around and then I just hear like, like somebody doing vocal warmups, right? And I'm like [laughs] what's going on. And like, I turn and it's–it's fucking Alex Varkatzas from Atreyu, the

singer. And he's just standing on stage, backstage right. Just pacing back and forth, doing his thing. And I'm like, "Oh, man, do I want to talk to this guy? I'm not going to talk—I'm going to talk to this guy.

Like, I'm going to go talk to this guy." So I go to him. I'm just like, you know, "Hey, Alex, you know, I'm–I'm Stef, dude. You know, my band is opening up for you guys tonight. I just want to say, you know, it's a pleasure to be here.

I'm very grateful to be sharing the stage with you guys." And in that moment, it was kind of like I didn't even really have to say much. I could just look at that guy and it was like he was reading me without me having to say everything because he just had this huge smile on his face and

super sweet guys. And then he was just like, you know, "well, I'm–I'm super stoked that you're here and that you're this excited and like, this is it. " It was like, you know, "this is a great opportunity.

" And he was like, "I actually heard y'all-yall's–some of y'all's music. " He's like, "I'm really excited about it." And I was just like, "Oh my God," this dude heard this music. But what he doesn't know is in–in that moment, I wasn't the singer on that recording that he heard [laughs].

Okay? It was somebody else and he had like, quit, you know, but even still. You know, it went really, really good. That was my, yeah, like I said, that was my first Coliseum show with them. Well, period.

Stage was huge. Sound was amazing. At one point, I jumped off the stage onto t his barrier and, you know, I'm–I'm coming from, you know, Houston.

Local. I'm used to, you know, like I said, like Warehouse Live and all that stuff, Meridian, jumping off the stage and there is nobody there to catch you. There's nobody there to look out for you, you know what I'm saying? But at this show was the first time I felt somebody's big ass hand just grab the back of

my belt. And hold me there while I had like, 300 hands pulling at me like this. So I was my first experience with, like, fans really, like, into the music and they have no idea w ho we are or

maybe they did. I don't know, because we won that contest, right? But—and that was just my first time really having that "rock star experience," right? And like, I was like, I don't ever not want to not have that

again. You know? Not even just the–the pulling and all that, but just the feeling in general of strangers just connecting with you because of your music.

You know, like, that's just a crazy feeling. I think that's probably, in my opinion, the best feeling for me personally. That's the best feeling.

Like if my—if I want my serotonin to just shoot up, all I got to do is write, record a song, and play it for somebody. If they're smiling, jamming out to it, that's all I need. That's all I need. Even if they're—is just a little like, you know what I mean?

That's all I need. And—but yeah that show was amazing. I was nervous as hell, but it went really well and they were all super cool people.

We got to talk to Avenged Sevenfold a little bit, and a little bit who—to one of the members of Blessthefall. Dir En Grey, I can't remember if they're from Japan or I know they're from either Japan or China?

Sorry. Don't quote me on that. I'm not sure where exactly from, but I do know that they were from not the–the US and, but they were also really cool people. I had never heard of them before, but they were amazing.

And—but yeah, just being that young and getting to experience that. I think to be completely honest, maybe I would have appreciated it a little more being older now, you know what I mean?

I mean, I was so young, you know, and I just feel like I was just so fixated on the fact that I was just playing with these bands that I grew up listening to, you know. And I–and I look back–back at it now and, you know, being that young, like not really knowing which direction to go or

how to present our music as like a "business standpoint"-type deal, you know what I mean? You know, I guess we could have like network a little better, you know, and stuff like that, but it was great opportunity.

I look at it now as just having that experience under my belt, you know, and just being like–like just the joy that I had playing the music for the people and meeting all these people. We met hundreds of kids that day, hundreds of

kids, like—and I was not expecting it to be like that. You know, I'm thinking, "we're going to open for these big bands" and then, "oh, everybody's just going to be so fixated on these big bands. They're not even going to like, think about us anymore," you know, like that type of

deal, right? But as soon as we got off stage, security was like, "okay, you guys–you guys have a tent set up in the hallway, east hallway." Blah, blah. And we're like, "what? " You know, like, like what?

So, like, yeah, you know, "your merch is set up over there" and we're like, "Oh, ok, ok," because like they have—we have a merch team. They–they took care of all that stuff while we were doing soundcheck and all that stuff. So, we were just kind of like—it was–it was—it's like production, you know what I

mean? It's like–like a movie production or whatever, but this is music, so it's the same thing. Like, you have somebody there that's cuing you on all of the different things that you need to do. "Okay, guys, you're on in 5 minutes. Okay, guys, get back here.

Okay, guys, you need to do this. You need do that." And you're just like, you're just like, "Oh, my God." You're like this young person, and you're, like, trying to like, "I'm just here to sing." But–but you're like, you're like, okay, like, that was my first time experiencing

something like that. So I was like, "okay, like, all right, let's go. What are we doing?" So we get to the tent and there was a line that wrapped around the whole—pretty—like half the stadium. And I'm like, "Oh, that's cool, man.

They're—somebody's–somebody's making some good merch right now." And the guy that was walking us to the tent, he was like, "That's y'all." And we're like, "What–What?" That's for y'all. "What?" [laughs] Then he was like, "Yeah, that line.

They're waiting to–to meet you guys and, like, take pictures and stuff." And I'm like, "Wow, I have no words." Like, I was just, wow, that's–that's awesome. That–that was crazy. So that day—so at that–that point, that was the first

time I had that experience, you know, just getting to meet everybody who appreciated the music, you know what I mean? Like, when you–when you come to like, I mean, you can come–you can come catch me at a show in Houston and I'll–I'll talk to you for–for however long you want to talk.

Like, I'm not I'm not that kind of person t hat's, "you know, let me come play the show for you. And this is what I do." And then I–I dip. You know, I really appreciate the people that take the time to even just listen and stream our music.

I appreciated even more for the people who take the time to come out to a show, and show out at a show, you know, take 5 seconds to come and be like, "Yo, I really love your song 'Sway'" or like, whatever. Like, I really appreciate this–this kind of stuff.

And I don't take it lightly, you know? Like, I really feel like–like the whole reason I do what I do is for you. You know what I mean? And–and for everybody else, you know?

And I feel like–like I said, if I can touch somebody in a–a certain way, like musically, you know, and it helps them get through something or happy or–or whatever the case may be, I'm happy to do it. But, I also want people to know that I want–I want to hear that

from you. You know, I want–I want you to come up to me and talk to me. I want you to come give me that big hug. You know, I want you to come dab me, high five me, whatever you need to do, you know. Come say what's up. Like, I really appreciate stuff.

I know a lot of people get intimidated because there are artists out there who are very standoffish and or, you know, will do what they need to do and then go back to the van or like, whatever. But–but I will tell you, I will stand out there and I will talk to

whomever, whenever. I've met some really cool people doing stuff like that. And I feel like it brings people closer to your music as well. When you do things like this, like when you network and–and really connect with people, I

feel like, you know. They appreciate your work a little more because, you know, I know that for me, like, you know, when I–I had the opportunity one year to go to this thing called the NAMM Convention in California, the band that I was

playing guitar in was sponsored by Daisy Rock Guitars. So they—we got to fly out to Anaheim, California. And this convention, you have to be specially invited to. You–you can't just buy a ticket and–and–and go from the street like you

have to be invited by a vendor or like, you know, something like that, right? And so we were invited by Daisy Rock and got to experience that. And I met a lot of cool people there, like I met DJ Kaskade, you know, I met one of the dudes from Slipknot.

I met all the members of Deftones except for Chino [laughs]. He wasn't there. No, but—and just like, just random–random ass musicians that were just walking around vibing. You know drinking, shopping, you know, because they're presenting you know, m

usical instruments and accessories and all kinds of things that are not yet released to the public. So, all of these musicians and stuff have first opportunity to buy these products before they hit the market, right? So, I remember when I went up to like the Deftones, for example, you know, I'm just

like going up to all of them like, "Hey, man. Like, what's up?" Like, I know them or whatever, like we're homies, [laughs] but they're all like, super chill, you know? And, but–but that was like my first—like, not first interaction because

obviously with the training and like all the stuff—but any time I have a like an interaction with a band that I know of or like that I love or whatever, I always try to like see how they are with their people, you know what I mean?

Like how they are, how they engage with their fans, you know. Because I'm like, because–because everybody's d ifferent, you know what I mean? And, you know, I've had shitty experiences meeting people too, like Job for a Cowboy.

I'm sorry. Like back in the day, their music was awesome and I'm sure they were cool people, but man, that singer was a dick, let me tell you. Sorry. Pardon my French. But he–he was just so frickin rude.

Yeah he—we were—we like—I, like my–my girlfriend at the time was like a huge fan and she–she really wanted to meet them. And I'm like, you know what? That's cool. Like, I-I'm down. Like, we'll wait in this line, right?

To meet these guys. I get it. When you—when you're done playing a show, you're hungry, you're tired. You're—you know, you just need a–a second to unplug or whatever, whatever. But take that second to unplug and do what you got to do before you're about to engage

with people. Because... that experience was horrible. I'm sorry, but yeah. Long story short, we were in line, we meet everybody.

Everybody's super sweet in the band. We get to the singer. And he's like balls deep in his food, not even looking at anybody that's coming to the table. And he's just grabbing the thing like this, signing it and pushing it back

off. Like this. And–and like my girl at the time, she's like trying to talk to him like, "Hey, I'm a big fan. Like, this is this." He's just—doesn't even make eye contact with her just eating. He was like, "Cool, thanks." You know, just on some BS, you know?

And that really just showed me how I would never be [laughs] with–w ith anybody, you know? I just feel like it, you know—and I'm sure he's not the only one, but I–I—you know, like that's why I'm saying, you know, musicians, they're all different.

And everybody—you're going to have a different experience meeting–meeting different musicians, and there's going to be musicians who don't even want to meet their people, which I think is crazy. And then there's musicians who really appreciate their people, you know?

Oh, another fun show I did was at... at the time it was the Meridian and it was the band Since the Ashes that I was with that I did the LP. We played a show with you remember that band, Kittie?

It's like an all-girl metal band. They—there was a band called Kittie, and then there was a hardcore band that was a female-fronted called Walls of Jericho. And–and then there was the other band called Calico System.

We all played a show together. And–and those–those–those people were super awesome, too. And like, they are huge. Like, Kittie is huge, dude.

Kittie and Walls of Jericho, they're pretty fucking big. So like, even them, they were super down to earth, super cool people. I feel like that's just really important in my opinion, you know? But sorry, I'm getting off topic.

I'll just go, [laughs] I'll just go. No worries. Well, thanks for telling me that. No, I—was—I'm sorry, go ahead.

Nah, you're good. Oh—no, I was not expecting that. Because, like, Job for a—they make some, like, cool music. I was not expect—like Entombment for a Machine, I think is.

[SW: Yeah, yeah.] Yeah, I did not expect. Yeah, I guess, like, that's a great point. Like, I guess you know, never— Judge a book by its cover.

Yeah, never judge a book by its cover. And, like, you know, meeting your heroes isn't— It's not always what you think it's going to be. Yeah. And, like, that was kind of a bummer, like I said.

But I mean, who knows? I mean, you know, like I said, I don't know what was going on with that dude. [KC: Mm.] Maybe he has something personal [KC: Yeah.] going on or whatever. Like, we never know, right?

But I just feel like if that's the case. Take that time, you know, to–to have that release. [KC: Yeah.] Or do what you got to do before you're, you know, meeting these people who love you for what you're doing.

You know, like, you know, it's just kind of a slap in the face, you know? I mean, like, they're there for you, you know, like? You know what I'm saying? Like that. That's like, yeah, like that just doesn't make any sense to me, you know, like

or like—yeah. Like, I just never, I never really understood that. [KC: Mhm. Yeah.] And–and like I said, I haven't experienced that often.

[KC: Mhm.] Maybe a few times, but–but when I did, it just made me—really just showed me, like, don't ever be like that. Don't—it don't matter if you're making all the money in the world, touring, have a jet plane, five managers or whatever.

Never change who you are based on these factors, you know what I mean? Like money comes and goes, dude. Things like these come and goes. Music is forever, you know what I mean?

That's–that's going to be there forever. You know, like there are songs that I listen to that were dropped in the eighties that I still listen to on repeat, you know what I mean? And it's like, I don't know.

Yeah, that's—it's crazy, right? That's what's crazy. So I've got a quick question for you. So, you know, how did you first learn to, you know, like,

scream or like, sing and scream like, [SW: Oh, that's a great question.] What's that whole process like, I guess. Yeah, so. Oh, man, it's not a story I'm proud of, but [laughs]. But it is one I will share.

No, you know, growing up, you know, I dealt what a lot of stuff at home and like, we won't get any details, but I just went through some hard times at home and at the time I was like, super into the band Suicide Silence and Bring Me the

Horizon, right? So like Mitch Lucker at the time and Oliver Sykes, they were like my heroes, right? And–and I was like, I was like, "I want to learn how to scream like that." [laughs] You know? Like, "what the hell do they do that?" You know?

I'm like–I'm like trying different things, like. Look at—like at the time you couldn't really YouTube anything, you know, like Internet wasn't de-developed like that when I was that young. We had AOL and that was it.

Maybe MySpace, you know what I mean? But yeah, so one day, you know, dealing with some hard stuff and I remember I got into like this huge fight with my mom, you know, and–and my mom's–my mom's the

Filipino one, right. And, you know, I feel like, you know, I–I–I still haven't been to the Philippines. I try to—I plan to go there sometime this year. I have like a whole family out there I've never met in person.

But like with that being said, I feel like you know, just the culture out there is c ompletely different. And how—you know, how everything is out there is like completely different. And like how we do things here in America is not tradition, in

tradition to how they do things in the Philippines, right? And so, my mom and I just like kind of always, like, butted heads. You know, I've always been kind of a daddy's boy. And I just remember one day, like we got into this super, super huge

fight. Just super huge fight. It was probably our biggest fight then, you know? And I just got so... I'm a teenager, okay?

A raging teenager, to say the least. You know, I have all these emotions. And so I just remember getting so angry and I couldn't, you know, express myself with words because what am I going to do?

Like sit there and cuss my mom out like, no, bro, she's going to come with me with a chancla or something, you know, and beat the crap out of me. Nah, I'm just kidding. I love you, Mom. But I'm just saying, like, you know.

She—moms know how to push your buttons, r ight? Your mom know—is always going to know how to push your button. She pushed my button, and the next thing I knew, I was screaming at the top of my lungs.

Not even words. Just, I just screamed. I was just so—I was just so upset. I was so angry and I just didn't know w

hat else to do. So I was just—I just screamed. And in that moment, it was like one of those things where, like, it like happened. And then like a little more than mid scream, I was like, "Oh." [laughs]

"Is that how you do it? " [laughs] And then immediately I was like, "Okay, I got to figure this out. I got to figure this out." So in a way, thanks, Mom. You know, you kind of helped me figure that out.

You know what I'm saying? If you want to take something positive out of the—out of a negative situation, you know what I mean? But yeah, that's really how I learned, to be honest. I was just really freaking emotional one day and was

like [softly yells]. You know, and then I was like, "Oh, that sounded kind of cool." And then after that, I was like, "All right, let me figure it out." Started like trying different things. And then whenever—like that's when I found the band Since the Ashes, actually.

And like, I found them on MySpace and I was like, "Oh, this kind of sounds like something I would love to do, and maybe I could put my screaming to the test type deal, you know?" So these guys super cool. "Yo, come to a practice," you know, like, "Learn the song, come to a practice, let's h

ear you, and this is this." I'm like, "All right, cool. Sounds good." I go to a practice and they're like, "Oh, you know, we don't have a PA system right now. It's busted or whatever." I'm like, "Boy, I don't need a microphone."

[laughs] I'm like, "Watch me, though." And they're like, "All right, cool. " So they play the first song. I'm screaming, right, in this practice room with two guitar players, a bass-bassist and a drummer, and we're in this little tiny-ass practice room in this house in Alief.

And–and I'm screaming at the top of my lungs. And boy, let me tell you, you could hear everything I was screaming over all of that without a microphone. Okay?

They—these guys stop and they're like, "Where the hell did that come from?" type deal. That was when I—that's when I figured out l ike, how to do my highs, like my super high cat scream. Then that's when I was, like, figuring out how to do the lows.

Don't get me wrong, this had been—this is years and years of practice, okay? Like, when I first—I'm not—I haven't always been where I'm at right now, you know, especially singing wise too like, this all has been developed over the years, you know. But yeah, when I first started scream, like trying to figure that–that

out was gnarly. That was yeah, that was just kind of trial and error, you know, all over the place. Like there–there–there were times where we would play like four shows back to back and like, I would lose my voice from screaming so much.

So, it was like trying to figure out, like, how can I do this? How can I control this without losing my voice and still be able to do a singing part or like whatever. So that was years of training my–my throat, you know, and–and not cheating, not using

throat coat and doing all that stuff that people—I did it the healthy way. So, you know, like if I would play a show, before the show, my routine would be to, like, gargle warm saltwater. And warm, not hot.

[laughs] Warm saltwater. And then have my room temperature water with me when I'm playing. I don't drink any cold beers or anything like that before show. You will never catch me drinking anything or doing anything before a show.

If you want to come, bring me a beer during the set or after the set, that's cool too. But right before the show, you won't catch me doing that. Cold water tends to like, mess up your vocal cords, makes you crack and stuff when you sing. So, what I like to do is I'll do the, you know, gargle saltwater thing,

I'll have my water, play the show, and then afterwards I'll have my beer or whatever. And I usually like to end the night with like a, like some hot green tea to break down the vocal chords. Because, you know, people don't really realize like, you know,

screaming and doing all that stuff. It can be straining, you know, too. And you just have to make sure you're–you're not only doing it correctly, but you're taking care of your voice after the fact and you're doing what you need to do to make sure you're good to go for the next day or the next you know, afternoon or whatever the case

may be. So, but yeah, man, it just—it was lots of trial and error. And it was a lot of losing my voice before I figured out how to keep it entirely. But once I figured that out, I mean, I'm out of place now these days.

I mean, I'm 34 now and I feel like I'm–I'm—I've got enough years and e xperience of training and taking care of my voice that, like, now it just doesn't even faze me. Like, I can literally without any emotion, high scream, low

screams, you name it. Just—it's just another way of talking for me at this point . Yeah. I know it's like 12:08.

I said like 12— Oh, no, you're good, man. I'm chilling. You have a few more like [SW: Yeah!

I'm–I'm good.] a few more minutes for a few more questions? Is that all right? I got you, Kevin, you're—I have no plans u ntil two, so we're good. Okay, great. Okay. Sounds good.

Sorry. I keep drag dragging on and, you know. Oh, no, this is–this is—no, like, I think you have some like very, very cool, unique, awesome experiences, you know? And, like, it-it's honestly really cool to hear all the stories you

have. I want to learn more. [SW: Awesome.] You know, so I just want—my next question is like, you know, when you're, you know, songwriting or singing or you know, you're writing music, playing in a band, what–what would you

say is the biggest challenge for you? I guess, you know, after all these years, what would you say is the one thing that keeps kind of coming back to you or like, "Oh, I need to work on this," or...

If–if there is anything. No, for sure, always. I feel like it was at one point. It's getting—it's gotten a lot better now—I feel like it was at

one point where, you know, stagnancy, you know what I mean? Like, I feel like, you know how I was telling you l ike, I'm very like, about the feeling of the song and like, the emotion that comes with it [KC: Mhm.] and how it makes you feel when you're hearing it and stuff?

[KC: Yeah.] Same—it's the same when I'm writing it. It's the same. Like no lie, I probably write the best w hen I am absolutely destroyed.

[laughs] Like, I'm not even going to lie. Like–like if—take my heart out. Stomp on it. Dance around it. I will write you a golden record, okay.

No, it's crazy. I feel like something that keeps kind of pulling me back sometimes is–is really that, I feel like . Like, you know, I'm not saying that I can't write when I'm happy or like, you know, when

I'm just chilling. I can. Is it going to be my best–best work? Maybe [laughs]. But–but, you know, like there are days where you're just kind of like, you know, like, I'll have my days where I'm like, I'll

like, write something like, super badass. And I'm like, "Man, I'm really feeling this, like this is cool. " And then maybe like, another day I'm like, feeling a certain type of way or whatever. And I'm like, "nah, this is shit." You know ?

[laughs] "I don't like this anymore, you know?" But then I'll listen to another day. I'm like—it's like a back and forth thing, right? So I really–I really feel like it's based on, like, how I'm feeling really, to be honest.

But that's something that, like I was saying, I've worked on, you know, especially after coming back from COVID and stuff with–with these guys, just not allowing my emotions to control what I'm doing. I've been practicing more like emotional intelligence too, like things that come into

your mind, you know, they're not permanent. They're just there to pass, right? So, we just got to accept that it's happening. Let it flow, take what it—what–what it comes with, and let it pass, right?

And that's something that I'm trying—that I've been trying to do when it comes to like my writing the music too like because, you know, like I said, sometimes I'll be writing in a certain mood or whatever, a banger, and then like,

I'll be like going through something or whatever. And then all of a sudden I'm like, allowing that to—not like get in the—well, kind of get in the way. Like, kind of like, makes me, like, pause, you know?

And then like, I kind of put that on a shelf and then here's another day. And I wrote something completely different. Now I'm putting that on a shelf, and now I have this whole bookshelf of all these different, you know, songs and ideas and expressions.

And so, now I'm at the point in my life where I'm standing in front of this bookshelf and I'm just slowly taking these things down, and I'm working with it as they go, you know, as it comes. And I'm no longer

allowing, you know, whatever it is going on in the world personally or whatever affect my flow of what I need to do to make this music happen for these people, you know, and for myself. Because I look at music also as like a meditation,

really, like a very therapeutic thing for me. Like this is how I express myself emotionally, mentally, physically, you know? When I'm on stage, I don't even know where I am to be honest.

I'll—I—it's kind of like–like I said, like–like a meditation. I'll like—I was talking to my drummer about this the other day, actually, we were talking about this. We were like, shooting the shit. And I was like, "Man, is it just me or like, when you're on stage, do you ever feel

like you're just like, not there, but you're there. But, like you're on autopilot or something?" And he's like, "Yeah, it's kind of like you're like, floating above yourself." I'm like, "Right? And you're like, watching yourself perform.

" He's like, "Yeah." And I'm like, "So I'm not the only one that feels like that." He's like, "No, I–I do the same–I do the same thing." I'm like, "Are we like in a trance when we're performing? " You know, I'm always try to like—it's like–like if you're not a musician and you

don't perform and you're—and you don't, you know, play shows and do stuff like that, it's kind of hard to like, explain, you know what I mean? But it's like, but not because—you know, one thing–one thing I get a lot too, is like, "Yo, Stef like, man, bro, when you're on stage, you're like a

completely different person." And like, then I'm like, "How though? Like, I don't see it." And then I'll look at videos and stuff and I'm like, "Oh, yeah, I see. [laughs] Oh, yeah, I am. " And I'll—but I tell them I'm like, but it's just a—it's a vibe, you know what I mean?

Like, you just become—it's like, you know, when a ballet dancer is dancing. Or, you know, or if a—you know, somebody's playing basketball, you know, or like, skateboarding, you're like in the zone and you're doing something that makes you so happy and you're just not fixated on

anything else but that moment, you know? And I feel like now, like, yeah, like with the whole writing and stuff now, it's–it's become a lot more fluent, you know? I feel like we're—I'm at the place now where

I am embracing everything I—everything that I'm feeling. I'm embracing it and allowing myself to express it through my music rather than letting it define me or put me in a stagnant place or, you know, stuff like that.

So and it—and–and–and don't get me wrong, it helps. It really helps having a band family to help get you through those things. You know what I mean? And help you get out of those stagnancies because you know, like, you know,

I'd be lying to you if I told you, like, oh, yeah, I write every day and I do this every day. Like, no. I sing every day for sure. I sing every day, whether it's my own stuff or

just singing to the radio, you know. But I think that, you know, it's just—given all of everything that comes with writing music and just and–and having the patience too and–and if you're working with, you

know, four other dudes, you know, it's like everybody has an opinion, everybody has their own view on something. But the way we write is actually really cool and I've learned is very beneficial for us as well.

I travel a lot for my full-time job, so, you know, it's hard to get together, you know, all the time. So when I am in town, we try to get together like two times a week and then in between we'll just send each other ideas and stuff, right?

And usually Albert and Paul and now Robert will come up with little riffs or like ideas. They'll do a preproduction of it, send it my way, and then I'll kind of jam it out. And I'm like, I'm like, all right.

It's–it's all about feeling for me. If I'm not feeling it, I'm probably not going to write to it. I'm not going to lie. And I'm–I'm like, super honest with the dudes, too. Like, I'm brutally—I'm a brutally honest v ery

straightforward person, you know what I mean? Like, I'm very blunt too, I don't beat around the bush, so if I don't like it, I'm straight up. I'm just like, "I don't like this, you know?" [laughs] And they're like, "Oh, Stef don't like it.

We got to change," you know what I'm saying? Yeah, like straight up. Like they're really good about that stuff. And it's not like—and I'm not like a dick or anything. Like, I'm not like, "Oh, this is trash," you know?

But like, I'm very honest and I'm like, you know, "I really like what you did here, but I don't like how it," you know, for example, "I don't like how I transition to this or I don't like how you brought this back and it strays out like this long." Because I try to also put myself in the position of like, if I'm the outsider

listening to the song like, am I going to lose interest on this part? Am I going to, you know, is this dragged on to that? Now, this part is overkill, you know what I mean? So, the guys are really good at trying piece in like the musical stuff together for

me. I'll kind of explain to them what I'm hearing or like an idea. They'll show me a riff and I'm like, "Okay, I really like that, like I can run with this, I like that." And then like, they'll show me another one. We kind of just pieced together, right, until we all are in agreeance with

the length and like all that stuff. When it comes to like lyrics and melodies and harmonies, that's all me. I–I do all that without them. Like I said, they'll do like the preproduction for the music.

I'll usually take it home, like I got my own little setup here and I'll–I'll do my own vocals and stuff here at home. That way I can, in peace, in my own area, in my own space, really figure out like

how I want to sing said part or how I want to transition, if I'm going to overlay harmonies, how am I going to, you know, is this chorus punchy enough, you know? Like, am I feeling it when I'm singing it here, you know, and then I'll like—and–and for me—this is so horrible.

I'm ranting, but this is so horrible. I have like OCD to an extent, right? Like, I'm very, like, I don't—whenever I do—whenever I'm doing pre-pro, I don't go back and like pitch correct my vocals and edit my vocals.

So, I do everything raw. Everything's raw and everything's live. So, I'll just play the song, hit record and then whatever comes out, that comes out, and then I'll do that multiple times.

So I'll have that same track saved like 15 times with like 15 different ways that I've done the singing until I go back and I listen to it and I'm like, "Ooh, yeah, that hits," you know what I mean? Like, "ooh." Or sometimes a certain part will hit on this track that I did, and it

won't hit on the other track. So I'll just like, okay, I have to do it like this here. You know, it's like a puzzle piece, you know, it's like you're putting something together. So it's–it's a lot of trial and error.

But, man, let me tell you, if I didn't go through the hardships I went through this past year, I probably wouldn't be where I'm at right now. No, but yo. But man, if anybody out there wants to know what the–what t

he secret formula to writing a banger song, it is heartbreak, let me tell you. [laughs] You know what I'm saying? I think any musician will say that. Any musician, if you want a banger, get your heart broken.

You know what I'm saying? You're going to come up with—I'm good now, guys. I'm good now. You know, I'm just saying, you know, like, you know, I'm–I'm literally right now as we're writing, like this new record.

Like, I feel like, just so, like, excited, like I'm super stoked. Just even thinking about it right now, I can feel myself smiling. I'm just really happy to be with these guys and have this opportunity with

them and that everybody is on the same page and everybody is like just as stoked as me and we all have the same goals. This new music is awesome. I really feel like it's—we're finally—we finally found our

sound as a whole with our differences, if that makes sense. Like, out of all the years I've been playing with these guys, like we finally have found our sound, you know, like what we want to do and how we're going to grow from it.

And this is why we're like pushing to go back into the studio, like, ASAP, because we want people to hear this. We play the songs at our shows, you know, but nobody knows them because they're not recorded, you know?

And then we'll play some of the old stuff, s o people know, you know, like, "Oh shit, yeah, I know that song," like. But right now, "Sway" is like the hot single of us right now, "Sway." Like I said, because it's showcasing that n-new direction

of–of mostly singing stuff, you know, so. So yeah, yeah. [laughs] I mean, I'm excited to hear it. Yeah. I'm so excited to show you. Oh yeah.

Yeah. So, you know, this is kind of off the topic of your band. [SW: Oh it's good.] But, you know, you're half Filipino, half white. I'm just curious, like, what do your parents think about, like, your musical endeavor—like your post-hardcore musical endeavors and do they differ from

each other? Like—do— Like my parents, do they differ from each other? Or like, is one more supportive of you? [SW: Oh yeah.] Musically?

[laughs] This is good. This is good. Well, you know, at first, like, when it–when it got to like the–the punk stuff, when I was younger like middle school days, you know, my mama, she was, you know, she didn't understand it.

She didn't get it. She didn't–she didn't really—I mean, she wouldn't like, get on me about it, you know what I mean? Like, she wouldn't, like, jump down my throat about it and stuff, but she didn't

understand it. And–and let me tell you, she would freak out on some stuff, okay? Like, you know, dyeing my hair or getting a mohawk, you know, wearing studs and like, you know, being all crazy street punk looking. She didn't really understand any of that to be honest.

My dad, however, this is why I say I'm a daddy's boy, right? Because he really—I mean, I'm a mommy's boy now, too. But–but, you know, dad was just from the jump has always been super, super supportive.

He's the one who got me my first guitar. And—you know, just actually, any time that I expressed to him anything musically that I was interested in, he would try to put me on and on one—in one way or another, whether it's showing me a

new record, you know, showing me, you know, whatever–whatever it was. My dad's a super huge like, you know—like he loves like Depeche Mode and like Duran Duran and like The Cure, like stuff like that, you know? So, like, I–I have all that in my background, too, you know?

So it's like, you know, growing up around, like all these eclectic sounds. My–my mom, she's also super into music, too. Like, she's more of like—she liked Janet Jackson and like, Sneaker Pimps. She likes more EDM type stuff, you know, because

she's the dancer, right? So like, I feel like it wasn't until high s chool when she saw that I was taking it more serious and she saw that I had actually, like recorded a whole ass album [laughs] at

the age of like 15, 16 [laughs]. And she was like, you know, and my pops, like, he was there through the whole you know, I'm–I'm a kid. I'm a kid, you know, and like and those guys at the time, they were like four or five

years older than me, some of them. And, you know, Pops was there from the jump, like, you know, "Oh, you're going to go to the studio? Like, let's go," like you know, super supportive. And then, yeah, I will re—I remember one

day when I really, really felt the support from Mom was one day she was like, "Oh, Stefanie, you have a–you have a show Stef? You have a show?" And I'm like, "Yeah, yeah, we got a show at Fitz." She's like, "Oh, yeah, I'm going to go.

" And I'm like, "You're going to go to the show? " I was like, "Ma, you know, this is a—like a metal show, right? " She's like, "Okay, but I can be behind the table. " I was like, "oh, oh, yeah.

You could be behind the table, mom, like you gonna be our merch girl?" Child, she was our merch girl that night. We sold probably the most merch ever [laughs] out of all the shows because Mom was running merch, right ? And

I think it was that day that she—because that was the first time Mom saw me, l ike on stage. Like that was the first time she's ever seen me perform. She had never gone to any of the Battle of the Band stuff she never like went to—well,

that's a lie. She went to my very, very, very, very first punk concert when I was in like seventh grade, seventh or eighth grade. And my dean at the school—this was at West Briar Middle School. The dean at the time was super into punk music, and he found out that we were in a

band, right, me and my little friends. And he was like, "Oh, what if we put on a show after school at the Coliseum one day," and we were like, we're like, "Oh, yeah, that'd be cool," you know, like, whatever. So I tell my mom, she brings all my–my–my titas and my titos and everybody comes,

right? And–and like, you know, they–they a lways see Stef with the mohawk and the crazy clothes and stuff. That doesn't faze them, but they've never seen Stef play the guitar and, like, yell and be in this band, right? And like, I–I—man, half the frickin school w as

there, dude. Like they heard free concert and–and like in you're in middle school and you're like, "A concert at the school? Like what? Dude, I'm going to go." Right? You're like, "What is that?" So how these kids show up?

My Filipino fam—part of the family's there and they're just like–like I like get on stage, as soon as I was playing, they're just like, "Like, who is that? What is happening right now?" You know, they had no clue. But, fast forward back to the Fitz when Mom was doing merch, that was the first time

since that, that I was in this more mature band that was actually developing and like playing shows and–and doing all kinds of stuff that she was like, you know, she was really like—she—I could tell she appreciated it more, you know what I mean? She was able to see the effect that we

had on these kids, you know, and all these people. And–and I think that really changed her perspective on the whole thing. Like, I really, you know, I f-feel like this is so cliche, bro, but, you know, Filipino mommas want you to be a doctor or a nurse or in my case, she wanted

me to go into dentistry because her—you know, my tita are out there, my titas out there was in dentist—or are dentists, so. So, you know, things like this. But for me, I'm like, "no, man, I want to be a rock star

." [laughs]. Like, I want to play music. I want to do art. Like, I want to—I don't—I want to make my own rules and express myself however I need to. And if I can make a living doing that too, then like, let's go, you know.

I'm going to try. I'm definitely gonna try. But yeah, she–she now-nowadays 100%, she's super supportive. But yeah, my dad has definitely always been the more supportive one.

Dad has always been more supportive one. He was the one that you know, got me my guitars or like, equipment, like my first guitar amp. He got me my first microphone.

Any time I would come with—to him with, like, ideas like, "Oh, dad, I want to start this band" or "I'm going to join this band and do this." He's always like, "Do it, do it. You got to—you got to do it. As long as you're making music, you've just got to do it." And I'm like, say less, you

know, like he just—like it was like since he handed me my first guitar, it's like he already knew that this is what I was meant to do. Like–like I could literally—I have like, so many hobbies, dude. And I do—honestly, I feel like sometimes I do a little too much.

I'm not going to lie. But at the same time—but at the end of the day, music is always going to be my number one passion and thing that I will always fall back on, you know, and it—and–and my entire family at this point is super supportive of it.

Like I said, you know, I think, you know, the older you get too, the more I show up with more tattoos. It's like, it's not a phase, Mom. [laughs] It's not a phase anymore, Mom.

You know, so. So, yeah, they're super cool, super supportive. You know, I feel like, I don't think that I've ever had a time with either of them where I f—did not feel supported

on something and that's not even with music. That's just with everything in my life. Like, you know, I get it. Some pa-parents, like, may not agree with what their kids are

into or what they're doing. They may not support it all the time. You know, it might make them feel a certain type of way or like they're a failure as a parent or like, you know, you know how it goes.

But I feel like my family–my family is just super, very accepting. And they're very—they've always been like—even though my mom, you know, being from the Philippines, was a little more hard to break that shell at first.

You know, as my dad, I feel like was a really big help. And like, trying to show her that, like, it's okay for us to, you know, have these or like certain things or have these feelings or like, whatever it is, like, it's okay, you know, like it's not the end of the world.

And to just be patient about it, you know, and–and allow us to figure out our own—my pops would always say, you know, "do w hat you got to do. You know, just, you know, be safe about it. " You know, "if you want to try something, be safe about it, maybe even let me know." You

know, [laughs] like you want to, you know, do you—things like this, like just very open-minded, I guess you could say. They were just super, you know, because I have a lot of friends to that grew up with parents who are very strict and they were very

sheltered, you know? Like, I got a lot of—I got a few friends that have been—that were very sheltered. Even to this day, we'll like be talking about something and I'll bring something up from, you know, a movie or like a certain band or something from the past.

And there they go, "I wasn't allowed to listen to that," or "I wasn't allowed to watch that." And I'm like, "Oh damn. " Like, damn. I don't know what I would do if I wasn't able to—if I wasn't introduced to these things

at–at the age I was, because now that I'm older, I understand now more, like the different things, you know what I mean? Like, and why–why, you know, my parents, like, you know, showed us certain things at a young—at said

age because some kids don't get to experience that kind of stuff, you know. Like, yeah, I don't know. Like, like, I don't know if you know who Adam Ant is from like, the 80s, but like, that dude used to dress, like, super crazy, too, and, like, very punk, but

like, fashionista-ish, you know, with, like–like he would wear scarves around his waist and, like, this crazy, like, captain vest, but then he would have, like, an Indian feather in his hair and like makeup, like, cool guy, right? And, but it's like things like that, you know, it's like—but my dad also, when he was

like, around my age now, he was super like, hipster dude, like checkered vans and flattop with, like, the one piercing, like, you know what I mean? Like, I'm like, "Did you just come from Depeche Mode, bro? [laughs] You–you look good." But–but, yeah,

I feel like at this point in my life, both parents are super supportive in—if everything that I've been doing, whether it's been, you know, singer-songwriter stuff, you know, rap, you know. I try the whole hip hop thing every once in a while [laughs].

And then, you know, just, I just like to e xpress myself through the arts of music, you know, whether—it don't really matter the genre. I like to explore, too. But yeah, they're super cool.

They're cool about it. Nowadays, [laughs] even more so. Yeah. Thank-thanks for sharing. I think—I guess I don't want to generalize, but I feel like for a lot of,

you know, Asian Americans or Asians who are into, you know, the "heavier" genres of music, I feel like that's a pretty shared experience. Like, [SW: Right?] if–if you're from a mixed household, like at least one parent, is, you know, [SW: That part.] a little less accepting at least,

yeah. Yeah, yeah. Especially like when it came to tattoos and stuff too. Like, came home, my first tattoo, Mom just came up to me and she was like, "oh, my God, Stef, just please tell me that is fake.

" I'm like, "It is not fake." [laughs] I mean, you know, what am I going to do, lie? Like, you can't take it off, Mom, you know what I'm saying? But, yeah, you know, I feel like with her, like I– I–I do, like it was a lot harder when I was younger with her, because, you

know, like I said, her culture is different, you know, like, she grew up in a different culture, like how they were out in the Philippines versus how we're very Americanized [KC: Yeah.] here. And then being with my white dad, you know, my dad's just so chill and nonchalant, and then my mom is like, you know, sometimes?

And she just wants to know her way, you know what I mean? And like, it wasn't something she was used to or what she grew up around, you know what I mean? So for her children to, like, you know, be into that kind of stuff, you know, like she never understood that kind of stuff.

But, you know, she–she–she was just like—she tried to in the sense like she was like, you know. She would like listen—like, okay, here. Like when I first did the Since the Ashes LP, that was my first band that I was doing

like screaming and a little bit of singing and stuff. I was like, "Ma let me show you this song." She's like, "What is it?" I'm like, "It's my band." She's like, "Okay." So I show her the song. She's like, "Who is that screaming?

Is that you? Or?" "Yeah. " And she's like, "Wow, how are you doing that?" Like, you know, like she's just like, she starts becoming more intrigued, you know? And then the older I got and the more stuff I would show her and stuff—of course, she

doesn't understand. She doesn't understand the screaming and she doesn't understand the whole breakdown sequence. And like all this—she doesn't get none of that. All she sees is that her kid is doing

the singing. And it—part of this group, you know, she's looking at more as a whole, like he's happy type deal. You know, like, I'm not going to like, you know, stand in the way of his happiness. So, now she's just—I can just be like, "Yo, mom, show you the song." And I know

for for a fact she's not going to understand a word, but I know that she'll appreciate it in a sense you know what I mean? [laughs] And then I got Dad and my sis, and I'll show them stuff and they're like, "Oh, yeah, this is the banger, bro.

Like, I love this," you know, "I can't wait to hear you." Yeah. Yeah. I—Yeah. But it's good to know that um, you know, with being the half Filipino, half–half white like that, I'm not the only one.

Like, I mean, like, you know, Nikki and I, my friend Nikki, you know, we used to be in a band together, too. [laughs] It was me, her, and her sister Natalie. Just a–a three-piece Filipino band, huh? [laughs] But–but we just—we–we played mostly, like covers and stuff.

We had a couple of originals, but it was punk music and—but like her family was, like, super supportive of it. Like, I mean, I'm sure her mom at times were probably l ike, "Oh my God, these girls with these fishnets and these short skirts," you know

what I'm saying? And like these mohawks and stuff. And we're playing in this all-pink room like this punk music, [laughs] you know what I'm saying? And–and—but they were–they were like super supportive of it, too, y

ou know? So—but I mean, you know, like you said, like there-there's–there's some things that, you know, they might be cool with and there's other things that they're just like, ooh. But it does help h aving like, like my dad, who's half—or who's white—and he can kind of like chime in, like, listen, like,

this is–this is kind of how these kids are in America, you know? [laughs] Or whatever, you know? [KC: Uh huh. Yeah.] Because we were all young and we were all still trying to figure it out, too, you know?

Mhm. Just figure out what you want to do, experimenting, you know? [SW: Exactly.] Yeah. I mean, you go through all the phases, right? [KC: Yeah, exactly.] Hollister phase, the goth phase, the punk phase, and now we're ju

st in this phase of being adults and just liking whatever the hell we want. [KC: Yeah, exactly.] Yeah. Like, no, like, who cares what anybody thinks? I like what I like, right?

Yeah. Well, thanks for sharing. To close off, I guess, do you have, you know, a short piece of advice you would, I don't know, give to your younger self? Or like, younger musicians, singer-songwriters

who just, you know, want to start a band or want to— Yeah, just do it. Just do it. Don't–don't overthink it.

You know, if it feels right, just go for it, you know? You know, we–we have a lot to express as humans, you know? And if music is your way of expressing, really take advantage of it and don't ever let that go. It does—no matter how hard l

ife gets, um, or what it throws at you, don't give up and–and don't–don't even put it on a pause, you know? If you—sometimes we got to step away and take a little second to breathe on–on–on some things. But, just, if you just put your mind to it

and–and stick on it and if you think it sounds like shit, somebody else is not going to think that, you know what I mean? You are your—also you are your–your–your–your worst critic. Is that what they say? So don't be too hard on yourself either.

You know, you're going to have good days and you're going to have bad days, but as long as you're expressing yourself through your music, that's all you need, you know? So just keep on keeping on. Yeah. Thanks so much for sharing.

And I just like to thank you again for taking the time out of your day to talk with me. Yeah. Thank you, Kevin. It's been a pleasure. Yeah.

Okay. Wish I could talk to you longer. I actually have class at one. No, you're good. [laughs] You're good. [KC: Yeah.] You have my email.

Add me on social media. You know, like we're friends now. [laughs] Oh, yeah, for sure. I'd love to talk with you again.

I mean, just to hear about more of your experiences, it's awesome. I mean, I'd love to go out to one of your shows too. Yeah, please. Please do. We got—we have—we actually have one on February 10th at

Acadia Bar. Okay. I'm–I'm going to write that down, [SW: Yeah.] see if I can do it. February 10th? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I'll send you—I'll shoot you a flyer once it's made.

[KC: Okay.] Yeah. Okay. Awesome. Also one thing, so I'm—if you want—so I-I'm also a DJ at KTRU which is the–the Rice radio station. And we play all sorts of stuff [SW: Cool.] like if you want to send like a CD or

something, like I'd be happy to, you know. Submit it for it [SW: If you—I mean—] to play or something. If you have "Sway," maybe you can throw "Sway" on there. [KC: Oh, for sure. Yeah.

Yeah.] Oh, yeah, that'd be cool. And then once we get the–the new album out. I would love to send that your way. Oh yeah, I mean, like some files or something.

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. [KC: Yeah. For sure.] That'd be cool, Rice radio station. Yeah. Yeah. Right on. [KC: Yeah.] I love that.

Yeah. Cool. I think that's definitely something we'll do. Yeah. [SW: For sure.] Mhm. Yeah. Well, thanks so much again.

I'll keep you updated on the interview stuff. Oh, there is one more thing I forgot. We have—so we–we have this big exhibit. We've been planning it for a year.

It's going to be held at the Julia Ideson building of the Houston Public Library. I don't know if you're familiar with it or not. It-it's just this—they have this super, super old–old ass, like, fancy, like library building.

And there's going to be a reception for the exhibit. It's like, limited to, like, 90 people. I mean, I'd love to invite you to be there. Like the President of Rice is speaking.

There's going to be all sorts of objects, you know, from all sorts of like his interviews we've done [SW: Oh, cool.] and that sort of thing. I'll send you the flyer. [SW: Yeah, please.] No pressure if you don't want to come, but I don't—

No, [laughs] send me the flyer. I'm—I'd love to check it out, yeah. Hell yeah. Yeah, yeah.

A pleasure talking with you. I'd love to talk with you again. Maybe I'll see you at a show sometime. Hey, hopefully.

Yeah. Yeah. Thank you so much, Kevin. Yeah, of course. I hope you have a good rest of your afternoon.

And if you have questions, just shoot. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And same–same with you, man. It's been a pleasure and I got you any time.

Just hit me up. All right, for sure. Thanks so much. Thank you so much Kevin. All right, Have a good one. You too.

Bye. Bye, Bye.