Photography by — Angel Alcala
When and how did Hyper Minds form, Roland?
Hyper Minds started in early 2024. At the time, I was jamming and writing songs practically every day. One day I wrote Nail Biter, and it sparked the vision for Hyper Minds. Nail Biter ended up being our debut single! [YouTube: Nail Biter]
What bands have influenced you guys?
In the beginning, The Hives and Thee Oh Sees were major influences. Songwriting-wise, but more so the energy of their live shows was something that inspired me a lot. Other influences include The Stitches, The Ramones, Viagra Boys, and The Chats. The list goes on and on.
What are listeners looking for when they listen to garage punk or punk?
For me, when I listen to punk, I'm looking for a certain energy. I'm looking for aggression and true expression set to fast-paced and hard-hitting instruments.
Photography by — Angel Alcala
I think people listen to punk to hear the truth about what's going on in the world with no filter. I think people want to hear things straight up with no sugar coating.
What has the reception been so far from media and listeners for your latest, "The Dog You Feed"?
The reception has been truly overwhelming, to say the least. It's been a very gratifying experience to release our debut album and to receive so much love and support. This album has been 2 years in the making. We poured every ounce of energy, love, and attention into it, and we hope that you can hear that when you listen to it.
Tell us about writing "Sink or Swim". What inspires you to write your lyrics?
Sink or Swim was actually inspired by a conversation I had with a co-worker of mine.
I was telling my co-worker, who was training me at the time, that I was ready for a Sink or Swim shift. Training wheels off, essentially. When I said that, the idea for the song popped into my head. I think that we're all faced with Sink or Swim moments constantly in life. I wanted to express the way I felt about it through the lyrics of the song.
What is the Punk scene like right now in LA?
The punk scene in Los Angeles is vibrant and very alive! There's all types of punk music and scenes all around the city. You have bands like Dead City, Gottlieb, Memo PST, Duderella, Special Forces, and Paula Schultz, who are all some of my personal favorites but at the same time all very different.
The list goes on! Everywhere you turn, you can find all types of Punk music. If you're looking to see some great punk shows in LA, I would highly recommend checking out a show at Purgatory Alley!
Photography by — Angel Alcala
What attracted you to punk rock to make you want to play in a band?
I think for me the first thing that attracted me was the energy of the live shows. Punk is so much fun. Punk can be an escape as well as a very direct and focused means of expression. Creating an atmosphere for people to have fun, let loose, and get rid of some aggression is so much fun for us and a huge honor.
Another thing that attracted me to creating punk music was the raw, unfiltered lyrics. To be able to be completely honest about my feelings and set it to some aggressive and hard-hitting music is truly freeing and gratifying.
What is a hyper minds recording session like?
The first word that pops in my head is fun. We're just a bunch of goofballs, to be honest. But we are also very hard-working and focused when there's a task at hand. We laugh a lot in the studio, and I think that's something that I personally cherish so much is our brotherhood. We're friends first and bandmates second.
I think that becomes very clear while we're in the studio recording.
Any plans for the band for the future?
We plan to continue creating music and playing shows as much as we can. We're as focused as ever to continue growing as a band. We're currently working on touring in 2027, so keep your eyes peeled for a tour announcement sometime soon. We're also currently writing new songs that will most likely be coming out early next year!
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