Despite only a year in existence, Maine post-hardcore quintet Anxious Hands have created an accomplished and resonating brand of rock.

Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Trevor Laliberte - Vocals

Dylan Hitz - Guitar, Vocals

Zach DeFosse - Guitar

Teagan Stritch - Bass

Tyler Bilodeau - Drums

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Anxious Hands? How long has the band been around?

I (Trevor) played in a band called Cover One Eye, Tyler and Dylan are still in a band called Fading Dawn, Zach was in a band called Air Away, and Teagan bounced around quite a few bands before he ended up with us. We’ve been active a little over a year. 

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

Anxious Hands is a title that invokes a visual. We were thinking of words that sounded good together and felt the name could relate to our lyrical themes and match our vibe.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

Tyler is the primary songwriter but we all contribute. I write almost all of the lyrics. In our EP “Dissociate” we tackle a lot of coming-of-age issues involving love, loss, and mental illness. There’s also a running theme of perseverance and holding emotional strength through these issues. I don’t want to stray away from writing about heavy topics that impact me every day but we’re going to continue to develop and challenge these ideas.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

We’re big into a lot of melodic hardcore and metalcore. Counterparts, Touché Amoré, Silent Planet, Being As An Ocean, etc. We’re all from different musical backgrounds so our writing spans a lot of styles.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

Linkin Park was crucial for I think almost all of us growing up. They were the first band I ever looked at and said “I wanna do THAT” so I give them full credit. I’m pretty sure my original end-goal was to be in Linkin Park.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc …

After loading in, I like to give myself a good amount of time to relax. In new cities we’re into walking around and finding cool places, especially if they involve coffee or pizza. For vocalists especially, drink lots of water and sing along to a couple songs. Don’t scream, just sing enough to challenge your range and warm yourself up.

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

Finally getting to share these songs with people has been one of the most rewarding experiences we’ve had with our entire history in music. As a lyricist I have produced my most vulnerable work in this band and I’m terrified and thrilled every day anticipating the release. 

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

We’d probably do a lot to get on a Linkin Park tour. Counterparts and Silent Planet are invited too. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Our EP “Dissociate” drops worldwide March 29th. Give it a chance wherever you stream music and we’ll probably see you on the road this summer. For now, make sure to check out our single “Red Flags” and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Thank you for letting us share our music with the world.