Webster defines momentum as the “strength or force that allows something to continue or to grow stronger or faster as time passes.” Well, the last six or eight months have seen the Chicago based metal band Hessler embrace and ride a huge wave of momentum like no other. They are proving that the combination of true talent, dedication, and a solid work ethic will get you places in the industry today. The band has been holding their own this year, if not completely stealing the show from many veteran acts that they have been playing with.
The band consists of the twin guitar attack of Igz Kincaid and Frankie Sripada, Derek Spiteri on drums, Erik Michael on bass and the beautiful and talented Lariyah Daniels on vocals. Their high energy live show is a combination of great music, lots of rock and roll attitude, and quite a bit of fun. Although a fairly new band with one EP, Bad Blood, and one full length album, Comes With The Territory, under their belts, Hessler
is quickly making believers out of doubters and commanding the attention of many in the industry. I talked to lead singer Lariyah Daniels recently and she schooled me on all things Hessler.
Hi Lariyah! First off, congrats on the killer new video for “Waste Away.” How about we start off with a little back history on the band for our readers who may not be too familiar with you? How long have the five of you been together?
Hi Johnny, thanks so much for wanting to talk to us. Well, the five of us have only been together since Rocklahoma this year, which was in May. The band Hessler and how we sound now has been together since I joined in the very beginning of 2011. Frankie was in the band and then he left for about a year and came back and Erik did as well in 2011. Igz and his friends actually formed the band back in 2009, but I honestly wouldn’t count those years because that wasn’t the band that we are right now. There was a different vocalist back then, a male vocalist, and he wasn’t the best fit; he wasn’t melodic and nothing like what the band is today. So, we really feel like the band truly came together in 2011.
Watch “Who Will You Turn To”
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How did you come into the picture? Did you find the band or did the band find you?
The band actually found me. I was working on my solo project and Igz was in the middle of switching out his vocalist. It was at a club in Chicago called The Double Door and Igz was actually on vocals – although I am not sure I would call it vocals, it was more like screaming and yelling (laughs). After the show, he told me that he had heard my solo song on YouTube and asked me if I would audition for Hessler. I showed up and he told me to learn three songs, which I did, and he told me to really consider joining.
I know it’s a tough road for a band starting out in the industry and you’re still an indie band and trying to get picked up by a label.
Right now, things seem to be falling into place because we are hungrier than we’ve ever been. We want to play for thousands and thousands of people. We can’t wait for that moment: to get picked up by a label and get a touring manager, a touring agent and all the things that we are missing now. I think that, even though we are doing everything on our own right now, we are doing really well. There are a lot of bands who are on labels with managers who aren’t doing as much as we are.
You’re definitely doing something right when you catch the attention of Eddie Trunk, of Revolver Magazine. Eddie was involved in the Rockin’ The Farm show that you played on August 17 with RATT, Warrant, Lita Ford, Dokken, Sebastian Bach and Kip Winger. As for Revolver, they recently world premiered your new video “Waste Away.” That had to be pretty gratifying. 
Oh yeah, it was an phenomenal feeling and a big honor. The video
itself was a crazy experience and it all came together in only one
night. We were definitely getting attention. Even B.C. Rich Guitars
have been reposting our photos which was very nice. As you were asking
before, yes there are some great things we got to get. I became an
endorsee of Sennheiser, named 2013 Guitar World Model of The Year ,
Igz is endorsed by Engl Amps, Revolver featured our “Waste Away” video
in their “News” and “Hottest Chicks of Hard Rock” Sections, and more.
Too bad YouTube played this silly game with us and just took down our
newest video because it got ‘too many views’. Honestly it was
absolutely pathetic to see that there are bands and some serious names
who literally pay to get more views as opposed to us, who legitimately
have the best fans in the world who DO follow us and support us all
the way, got to get our video taken down. Just sad. Good thing that it
can be found on Vimeo.
Anyways, as you can see there are so many bands that form each day,
but I don’t think they realize how much hard work is involved in
making the music. It’s not like it was in the 80s when you could go to
Sunset Strip and look cool and somebody would see you and want to make
you a star. You really have to work hard today and even bands that are
on labels have to work their asses off to get their name out there.
So, how does a girl living in Poland end up over here in the U.S.? Was it because of music or work or what?
I was actually studying architecture and I came here six years ago to write my final paper over the summer. I had been here for two months and I was two days away from leaving to go back to Poland and I just couldn’t. This country really made me feel like I was at home. I did all of my paperwork that I needed to ensure that I could stay here and I ended up graduating here. There are just so many different cultures and religions here and the different types of people are all very interesting; not to mention all the music and the opportunities that are here.
Were you pursuing music in Poland or did that not happen until you came here to the U.S.?
I had a couple of projects in Poland with my friend, but we were making more of an industrial/goth type of music. We had some shows scheduled and we were supposed to start spreading the word as soon as I got back from school here in America, but I never went back.
Since you mentioned that, who would you cite as some of your influences, as well as the band’s?
Honestly, we vary a lot. Frankie is more into rock and roll, whereas Derrick is more into more modern, hard rock. Igz is straight up heavy metal from the late 70s, early 80s and the beginning of the 90s as well. Erik is black metal and death metal, and my influences come from goth music and industrial themed. I actually had to learn a lot about heavy metal.
The new video for “Waste Away” is really great and it’s hard to believe that you put that together in one day, but you’re not a stranger to making music videos. To be such a young band, you have made quite a few music videos.
We really like to do those videos and they are fun. We have so many people who want to see us live and we can’t make to places like Europe right now where they live. We think bands should put out videos for those who cannot see them live. It’s a cool experience to see us rocking out in those videos. I’ve always been curious when a band is about to release a new video to see what they look like, hear what they sound like and see how they were going to interpret the song in the video as far as the visual aspect of it. That’s why I have always looked forward to new videos by Dimmu Borgir because they were always insane and there were a lot of details to it.
Let’s talk a bit more about live shows, since that’s a big part of where you are winning fans over. Do you have any tour dates lined up that you can tell us about?Â
We’re waiting to hear back from a promoter on a possible European tour for the end of this year, but we can’t really confirm anything right now as we’re waiting to hear back from one more band. If it doesn’t happen, then we’re going around the U.S. starting from Chicago and going all over. We are definitely going out on tour; it’s just a matter of whether here or there.
Speaking of touring and live shows, does the band have any pre-show rituals that you do that you can share with your fans?
Yes, the guys always have a beer or two and I always warm up my voice at least thirty minutes to an hour. Also, Igz always gives the final speech what not to mess up and Frankie usually just laughs at him.
There definitely seems to a lot of chemistry between all of you and a great vibe that flows when you’re all together. Lariyah, I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me today and I wish you and the guys the best of luck with everything; although with all the talent you have luck isn’t necessary. Any last words for everyone reading this?Â
First off, thanks to you and RockRevolt for this opportunity and thanks to all of our fans for helping to spread the word of Hessler. Please check out our new video for “Waste Away”* and share it with all of your friends.
CONNECT WITHÂ HESSLERÂ at the links above or click the icons below:
 
           
      
*YouTube yanked the video for “Waste Away” because they didn’t think the views they were getting were legit. Hessler is in a battle with YouTube right now because YouTube won’t put the video back up. Stay tuned and keep watching and following Hessler! They are on their way and NOTHING will stop them!
