Hunter Alive is progressive hardcore band from central New Jersey.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Jake: Vocals
Zach: Bass/Vocals
Patrick: Guitar
Rohan: Guitar
Matt: Drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Hunter Alive?
We all come from different bands and projects. Zach and Matt had played together previously in a metalcore band, and Patrick had been in an older screamo band called ByeHerSmile.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
Hunter Alive actually comes from the name of Patrick's dog. Patrick had been struggling to find stability and claims that it was his puppy, Hunter, that brought purpose and positivity back into his life.
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?
Our songs are instrumentally polished off in a very collaborative way, each of us working to ut something together we all feel good about. Patrick brought in most of the bare bones ideas for "I Decide," some of it from prior material we'd worked on with our old guitarist Deryck, but a lot of it was actually hammered out in a 30 day period between Pat and Rohan basically immediately after he joined the band. Lyrically, Jake and Zach have done the majority of the writing from the start.
Some songs have a more direct message, like our track December---it doesn't need any added explanation for the listener to feel what it is.. which is really our goal, to make the listener feel something, regardless of the experiences that inspired the words. The concepts in the songs and the messages will hopefully evolve, but the purpose will always be to create something people can feel and relate to.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
All of us love music, and that means going to see bands live. Anyone who listens to heavy music knows there's a unique energy at those types of shows. Naturally, it leads to wanting to be on stage. Each of us have so many different influences, but the thing we all share in common is the thirst to play shows.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
The feedback from I Decide is the most we've had so far, and that's very exciting for us. Seeing our record being shared, streamed, and hosted on some sketchy international websites is new for us, so that's pretty cool.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Bands like Counterparts, Norma Jean, Comeback Kid, The Devil Wears Prada or The Ghost Inside would be amazing. We still need to cut our teeth a bit to get there, but that would be goals for sure.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Let us know what you think of "I Decide," and if you dig it, share it with your friends!