TWELV had privilage of chatting with our friends from the band Caverns. The trio hail from NYC and are pretty much all over the music scene here! After a residency at The Bitter End, the group is currently in LA and soon launching a radio campaign. Check out images of the band, our littler interview, and make sure you listen to their music! 

-------------- CAVERNS's INTERVIEW --------------

1. How did you guys come together as band?

We all went to LaGuardia High School together in NYC. The band started when Nicola Wincenc (vocals/ guitar) and Russell Holzman (drums) started jamming together during the summer after Nicola graduated. The two called their friend Nick Katz in to play bass shortly thereafter. We then started playing gigs around New York within a few months.

2. What are your musical influences? 

Our individual influences are quite varied, but we do crossover on a lot of music that falls under the umbrella of Rock. The heavier side of our music comes mainly from bands like Audioslave, Rage Against The Machine, and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers with grooves coming from classic records by Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. We are also heavily influenced by more psychedelic and progressive rock such as Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, The Mars Volta, Radiohead, Tame Impala, and many more. 

3. Did you always know you wanted to be musicians?

We all have parents who are professional musicians, so music has been a huge part of all of our upbringings. We have also all had formal training since we were children, at first because our parents wanted, but then out of love for the craft. Music has been in our DNA since day 1.

4. How would you describe your music for someone who has never heard you play?

It's like Band Of Gypsies meets the Red Hot Chili Peppers on an airplane and midway through the flight they have to refuel and it's Jim Morrison and Jeff Buckley who fly in with the tanker and save the day! We’re a psychedelic from New York! We’re raw and everything you see is everything you get! Don’t use computers on stage unless Russell throws his sticks on the ground and starts bashing the high hat with a laptop Dave King style! 

5. How do you guys write your songs? What is your process?

One of us will generally come in with a kernel of an idea, usually a riff or melody and then we will all collectively flesh it out and arrange it. It is definitely a group process. I don't think anyone has ever brought in an entire song and said, "learn this!"

6. What has been your favorite experience with the band thus far?

One of our most favorite experiences as a band has been recording up at Allaire studios in Woodstock, New York! A lot of heavy musical vibes go on up there and we are truly grateful to be able to get creative and record in the effing mountains! We are also really excited at the moment because we are writing this interview from California where we are about to play our debut show at Bardot part of “Its a school night” event, as well as continuing our second radio campaign! This has been an incredible trip for the band and you will be seeing a lot more of us here out west. 

7. Tell us about your residency at the legendary venue the Bitter End. What was the best thing about that experience?

Being welcomed at The Bitter End by Ken Gorka (may he rest in peace) with the enthusiasm that we were was a major privilege, and a real affirmation that we were getting something half right! The vibe of the room and the people who came out to see our shows there were a major part of the development of our sound. It feels great to have been included by a venue with such an historic roster of legendary artists, because many of our favorite bands performed there in the early stages of their own development as well. 

8. You guys are from New York so what is your favorite NYC venue to preform at?

We're really thankful for our people at the Knitting Factory! It's a great venue in a great location. Other than that we want to shout out The Yippie Cafe where many many early shows were played. It has since been shut down and is now a boxing club run by our friend… great memories from that place. 

9. Where did the name "Caverns" come from?

Caverns are deep. 

10. What is next for you guys?

INTERVIEWED & WRITTEN BY: SUSAN SCHELL 

PHOTO CREDIT: CAVERNS