Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band:
Ms. Meka - Vocals
Bobby Keller- Guitar
Jarret Robinson - Bass
Jay Adkisson - Keyboards
Chris Lane - Drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to (Meka Nism)? How long has the band been around?
Meka - I was a part of three bands prior to Meka Nism. I was in Angel Autopsy, Dirty Baribie, and when I was in Japan I was in a band called Origami Girls. Meka Nism started for me around 2006 and then in 2010 when Bobby Joined is when Meka Nism took the form it is now.
Bobby - Meka Nism is my first band, haha. I’ve filled in with some other bands but nothing before.
Jarret - I was in a band called Seven Factor and a band named Sons of Ragnar.
Jay - I’ve filled in for bands and did some cover gigs before Meka Nism.
Chris - I am actually in another band currently called A Brilliant Lie, and have done a lot of session work in between.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
Bobby - The origin of the band name came from our singer. Her name is Meka and basically I took it and put it with Meka Nism, which by definition is a machine made of several parts that work together. So I felt like it was perfect for the band since we are all separate parts working together to make the best music possible.
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?
Bobby - For the most part, me, Jay, Jarret and/or Chris get together and arrange some music, then Meka comes in with her lyrics or ideas for structure. We all work really well together.
Meka - I like to focus on healing arts and spiritual work, and using my lyrics to try and uplift people and our listeners. There is a lot of negativity out there and I try to do my best to show people there is always a positive to a negative.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Thats a hard question for us, because we pull from a lot of bands and different inspirations. We’d have to say bands like Avatar, Nothing More, Metallica, and In this Moment have been circulating around in our speakers though.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Bobby - For me it was metallica. Just everything they did, really made me want to play guitar and be in a band.
Meka - Probably hearing Janis Joplin, Madonna, or Marilyn Manson.
Chris - Soilwork for sure moved me, and Shinedown.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
Bobby - I know I like to warm up on guitar about an hour before the show. I also stretch and try to get the blood flowing a little bit.
Meka - Vocal warmups and stretching, and war painting
Jarret - Going over last minute stuff, stretching, and warm up on bass
Jay - Lots of stretching and water
Chris - Drums warm ups, and stretching about an hour before.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
So far, the biggest highlight of the band’s career has to be opening the main stage at WJRR’s EDBD in Orlando with Alter Bridge, Nonpoint, Sevendust, and some others.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Bobby- Metallica because they are the best and who wouldn’t?
Meka - Either System of a Down or Metallica
Jay - Fatih No More, the Cure, or Metallica because they all have been such influential bands to me and my musical career.
Chris - Probably Soilwork, they are one of my all time favorites.
Jarret - Avatar because their live show is insane!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes, our new single “The War Inside” is out now on all major music platforms and our music video is out too! You can find us at www.meka-nism.com and we thank you for having us!