Loud beats on a drum set and the clashing of cymbals overwhelm the atmosphere as I walk toward the front steps of a Nashville bungalow-style home. Belmont-based Us & Them is having impromptu band practice.
A few raps on the door, and lead guitarist Mike Crecca appears in the entrance of the home shared by the four men in the band.
I walk in, and the guys gather around the kitchen island. The beautifully-orchestrated noise of instruments ceases, and I am met with warm smiles.
We venture to the living room, the men proud of how perfectly peaceful it is. This room holds no electronic ties; just a record player, a piano, vintage pictures on the walls, and plenty of seats for friends -- all the workings of an inviting family room.
The conversation begins organically, and the men are eager to speak about their inspiration. Each hailing from different musical backgrounds and various parts of the country, they still seem to hold a unified demeanor.
They tell me they’ve just released another song, titled "Smoke," for their new EP. This is the third track put out by the group for the EP, which is being released over the course of the fall semester. Grayson Schweers wrote "Smoke" and does vocals on the track, stepping out of his usual role as bassist.
In not just "Smoke," but in all of Us & Them’s music, there is an unexpected vulnerability. For this track in particular, "Smoke" starts out slow. Then drums kick in, the beat picks up and it culminates into a beautiful chaos. The contrasting elements make it appealing.
This song, like many of the others, is about relationships. These guys feel deeply, and I have chills upon listening to the song. Lyrics like “I hope to live and die for the moment when I touch your lips,” cut to the core.
The consistent theme throughout the lyrics is growth through experiences, says lead guitarist Mike Crecca. However thoughtful, the genre they perform is rock, which comes across just as brash and fun as it is carefully constructed.
On the music scene in Nashville and the surrounding area, Ian Kendall says, “It’s a huge privilege to be able to live in a community that accepts and embraces this type of thing. [Some places,] you play, you spit out your emotion, and people will hate you for it. Here people are listening, ready to connect, people are hungry, and that’s super inspiring.”
For drummer Michael Rasile, the draw is that music isn’t hyper-structured, allowing an outlet for him. “It was the thing that was all my own.”
This weekend they’ll be taking their style to Oklahoma for people who are ready to listen. The guys tell me they’ve been invited to play at Red Door Music Festival at the University of Oklahoma. Smiles gleaming, they are eager to speak to others through their music.
Another milestone of success for the band is the use of "Pheromones," a song on their previous album, in the movie "Goat," which stars Nick Jonas and is being produced by James Franco. In keeping with college tradition, the movie is about fraternity culture.
In addition to setting the scene with a track in a bound-to-be-popular movie, the young men are also giving back to the community. One way in which they are doing this is through an an organization called Songs Against Slavery, a non-profit committed to raising awareness and bringing an end to sex trafficking in the United States. Through SAS the men are able to give back to more than just their fans, taking purpose to a whole new level.
Speaking of purpose, part of what makes their music so meaningful to the guys and their audience is that it is a collaborative effort. They are able to take their own experiences, share them with others and know that people are connecting with the emotions they are conveying via musicianship. And to the guys, bridging the gap between personal experience and others’ walks is what drives their love for what they do.
“It’s more than us,” says Crecca. “But it starts with us,” echoes Schweers.
