The local alternative music scene in Michigan is a place that is home to some of the most impressive hidden talent in the midwest. Small artists and bands thrive on their local crowds and venues to climb the ladder towards more stardom, bigger venues, bigger crowds, and more fans. All artists have to start somewhere, for many alternative artists, this means starting local.
Unknown Neighbors is an alternative rock band from Macomb Township, Michigan. Their drummer, Charles Provenzano, and one of their guitarists/vocalists, Zack Newood, are featured in this article.
Lyons is a modern day rockabilly band from Detroit, Michigan. Their guitarist/vocalist, Mark Leo, is also featured in this article.
Kvn Ian is an indie alternative musician from Warren, Michigan. Kevin DeClaire, the artist that is Kvn Ian, was interviewed for this article.
When did you first start playing instrument(s)/singing?
Charles: I started playing drums when I was about 6 years old. When people ask what I can credit my success as a drummer to, I always tell them that starting young had a major impact! It’s much easier to build a habit when you start early.
Zack: When I was in elementary school, I always watched my brother play guitar with his best friend and decided to pick up a guitar when I was in fourth grade. Ihaven’t set it down since.
Mark: When I was three years old, all I wanted to do was play the guitar. I ended up getting pulled into piano lessons around four to my great disdain and probably stayed in them until I was about 8. Everything I learned has since been forgotten, but I managed to teach myself enough piano to get by these days. I got a first act guitar for my seventh birthday, and I was hooked.
Kevin: I started playing music when I was just a young boy, maybe around 4 or 5. My Mom put me in piano lessons, and my love for music grew from there, participating in band throughout high school and into my college career. Singing took me a while to latch on to. I would always sing to myself in the shower, in the car, what have you. Only till about my last year of High School did I learn to accept my singing voice!
What inspired you to want to create a band/play live music?
Charles: My inspirations to join a band and play live music largely came from my admiration of other people— people I looked up to. In this case, they happened to be musicians. One of those people was my older brother Joe. He was a part of various bands growing up and played every kind of instrument you could imagine. I always appreciated his talent and thus, wanted to “follow in his footsteps,” even if I only chose one instrument to do so! Beyond my brother, I also had enormous amounts of inspiration from one of my best friends, Zack. Zack plays guitar and is the most prominent musical friend I’ve ever had. Him and I both motivated each other to become better musicians over the years, and he’s been a part of every band I’ve ever been in.
Zack: Growing up, I only knew of one other person who really listened to “rock n roll” and that was my best friend (to this day), Charles. He played the drums as I was learning guitar all those years ago and have always jammed together ever since. In high school, the two of us joined a class that our older brothers always spoke highly of where you would perform a new song each week which, long story short, led us to a job where we met some people and ultimately decided to start hosting house shows in our basements.
Mark: Seems like something that just captivated me from a young age. I remember trying to form a band in second grade because I knew somebody who played drums. The natural thing to do when you hear somebody else plays an instrument is get together and play with them. Then I met more people in middle school and there was a different form of a band pretty much every year up until mid-high school. Lyons formed in my junior year of high school.
Kevin: The inspiration to play live mainly came from actually going to concerts as a kid and watching my idols play. Seeing the impact they made on so many people lit a fire in me to make that same motion. I’d also be lying if I said I don’t like being in the spotlight every now and then.
What artists have had the biggest impact on your playing and songwriting style?
Charles: One artist that’s had a huge impact on me is the late drummer Neil Peart from the rock band Rush. Neil Peart is a staple in the drumming world, most notably for his hard-hitting and odd time signatures. He also was Rush’s primary lyricist in addition to being the drummer, which is impressive. This inspired me to try and do lyric work in my own band and think outside the box when it comes to laying down drum beats. Other drummers who have inspired me include Travis Barker from Blink-182, Taylor Hawkins from the Foo Fighters, and drummers from lesser known but still successful bands such as Pat Kirch from The Maine and Matt Nicholls from Bring Me The Horizon. All of these drummers have taught me different things, but primarily, the lessons have been to balance crazy awesome playing with keeping a beat. After all, keeping the beat is a drummer’s primary job.
Zack: I’ve always been a huge Stevie Ray Vaughan fan which is what led me to the style of guitar playing I tend to stick to. Over the years of course, I’ve gone through so many different phases of music, and the one that really drove me was when I was “emo.” Some of the biggest inspirations include the albums “The Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance, “Forever Halloween” by The Maine, “That’s The Spirit” by Bring Me the Horizon, and the entire Nothing but Thieves discography. Those are just a few of the bands and albums that have shaped me over the years. I’ve been taking a lot of inspiration from the current scene of smaller bands such as Mom Jeans., Heart Attack Man, and then of course the classics like Queen, Bowie, and Nirvana. My palette is all over the place, like many people, but when it comes to instrumentation, it’s a lot of rock type bands. My melodic/lyrical structure comes from all over the place and honestly couldn’t be pinpointed.
Mark: Dion will always be my number one. Everything he did from 1957-1965 is just absolute gold. I resonate highest with music from 1954-1964, and strive to modernize the styles of rockabilly, doo wop, early rock ‘n’ roll, and the female led r&b of the era. I am massively inspired by everything out of Sun Records, Eddie Cochran, Wynonie Harris, Lula Reed, Gene Vincent, everything Motown, and everything Phil Spector produced. Using these influences always puts us in the realm of alternative music rather than “rock” music which I am glad about. I love catchiness and danceability, and we strive to improve these elements in the future.
Kevin: The artists that have inspired me most vary across all genres. However, (as cliche as it may be) I’d say my biggest inspiration is The Beatles. I’ve been listening since I was a kid, played Beatles Rockband, and grew up around my family’s cover bands playing the music which has made a large impact on the way I think and act on music. Some other influences include Queen, The Bee Gees, The Beach Boys, Beach Bunny, Finneas, and the list goes on.
How would you describe your own/your band’s personal experience as a smaller local artist in the Michigan alternative music scene?
Charles: I play in a pop-rock band called Unknown Neighbors. Our experience as a smaller local artist in Michigan’s alternative music scene has been quite informative! When we started, we had to learn not only how to write good music, but also how to write it in a way that best utilized everyone’s strengths. This is a continuous process as every song is different! Beyond writing, a lot of learning has been done regarding the business side of having a band. People don’t realize it at first, but being in a band is a business. Thus, it comes with the appropriate business paperwork and responsibilities (forming a company, filing legal paperwork, keeping track of finances, etc.). It also comes with understanding marketing. My band had to learn how to effectively price our products and services, such as merch and tickets, as well as how to best promote them. Beyond recognizing the business side of music, the main thing my band has experienced in being part of the music industry is the need to adapt. Each gig is different, as is every venue. Musicians can do their best to prepare, but something is always bound to change. In addition to being adaptable, I’ve learned that musicians must know how to effectively communicate. Otherwise, come gig time, things will be a disaster.
Zack: As a smaller band, we’ve had a lot of fun hopping around and doing what we love. For a long time, we were hosting shows in basements filled with up to 100 people, and we’d play some covers and originals and even set up lighting. The basement shows really set us up to be more professional when it came to the bigger stages. We’ve met quite a few bands and, for the most part, have received nothing but love from each which is epic knowing how supportive the scene is. Our current mindset is that it’s only up from here. We just played a show at The Sanctuary, and we have felt infinite ever since.
Mark: Absolutely amazing! We’ve met loads of amazing people and had a lot of fun passing out thousands of flyers and driving around Michigan delivering tickets. We’ve befriended plenty of people, and I love that everybody has something great they are bringing to the table. It seriously seems like the local scene right now is at an all time high, rivaled only by the aforementioned Motown. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens within the next two or so years. Everybody is helping each other – it’s absolutely wonderful. We are all on the same team.
Kevin: As a fresh face in the Michigan scene, I’ve tried to gather as many connections as possible and generally just make that good “first impression”. I’ve not limited myself to communication with any genre as I want to gather an inclusive and safe fanbase. I’ve begun working with some promotion companies to gather shows and be placed on playlist’s. My song “Zen” is currently featured on Audiotree’s “MichSongs” playlist! Getting people’s ears on your music is difficult, but I’ve found with enough determination and belief in yourself, you can grow slowly day by day! And for smaller artists, any progress is good progress. I’ve learned not to compare numbers!
If you/your band could play any show or festival, what would it be?
Charles: If my band could play any show or festival, it would probably be something huge like Coachella. Realistically, though, I would absolutely love to open for The Maine band. I mentioned their drummer in question #3. I’ve always loved this band and think that they, of all the bands I admire, have the most similar style to my band’s. Opening for them at a festival like Sad Summer Fest would be a dream come true.
Zack: The one show that I would play over any would HAVE to be Red Rocks in Arizona. The stage is phenomenal, the sound is impeccable, the environment is beyond gorgeous, and the history is endless. Being a part of that type of stage would be a peak in my career.
Mark: It’s funny because if you asked me in 2020 what my dream shows would be, they all happened in 2021! I would love to play Dally in the Alley this year. I keep hearing it’s a great time.
Kevin: Speaking on a smaller scale, I would one day love to play at the “MoPop” festival. The attendees of this festival would absolutely dig on my music and they’re exactly the type of audience I’d love to have! On a greater scale, of course I’d say Coachella. One of the biggest stages in the world, and a definite staple in any musician’s career.
What is your favorite song that you have written? What inspired it? Is it streaming yet?
Charles: My favorite song that my band has written is called Green Light. I like this song the most because not only is it a catchy and fun song, but I had a lot to do with writing it. I wrote the drum parts as well as influenced other elements of the song. In addition to that, I shared a vision with the other members about what the song represented. The title “Green Light” is modeled after the infamous green light in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby book. In the book, a green light sits across the bay from the main character’s dock. It represents the struggle for the main character, Jay, to let go of the past and give up on a dream that has long since expired. In many ways, Green Light is about this. It’s streaming now and can be found here.
Zack: My favorite song that I’ve written has to be one I wrote just a few days before our last show. I was up extremely late finishing the lyrics for it, questioning the worth of the song, but once it came together, the melody and pace of the song really really felt different. It’s also crazy because the song was only written in two days. It’s called “Blank Canvas,” and will be out within something bigger later this year. For now, you can catch it live at our shows.
Mark: This is an obnoxiously tough question. None of them are streaming yet but we should be able to get them all out locally before the summer. There’s one song that I’m really loving working on called “The Fiddler”. It was inspired by a girl as most of the songs are! She was a wonderful girl, and though things didn’t work out, she still got a song. It’s the only song I play piano for, and it starts like a ballad and turns into some jazzy piano playing reminiscent of something out of La La Land. Spector influence came in and violins take over around the halfway mark. It also has some influence from the Twenty One Pilots album Regional At Best because that album is packed with heavy hitting piano songs! Overall though, the fan favorite “Clockwork” will always have a special place in my heart. The melody came to me when I was 11, and the lyrics have been evolving as my life experience grew. People say it gives them Arctic Monkeys vibes, and I take that as a compliment.
Kevin: My current favorite song I’ve written is called “My Best Man”. It is a true story about losing friends and understanding that you may have been a part of the cause. Throughout all my music you’ll find, I write lyrics that can be thought provoking juxtaposed with an instrumental that’ll make you move! It is currently not released, but will be soon. My favorite released song is called “Zen”, and it is simply about being okay with NOT being okay. The link to Spotify is here, and it is everywhere else you can find music!
Keep up with Unknown Neighbors, Lyons, and Kvn Ian on Instagram to learn about upcoming shows, new song releases, merch drops, and more!
Kvn Ian can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, and Twitter!Unknown Neighbors can also be found on Spotify and Apple Music! For all other links and bookings, their LinkTree can be found here.