Highly Suspect, this rock band from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, is composed of twin brothers Rich and Ryan Meyer and lead singer Johnny Stevens. Since 2009, they have transformed from a bar cover band to one of the most popular in the music industry today. One of the most popular rock bands. With each album, they demonstrate the evolution and innovation of their musical style, all starting from their early public performances. How this band found and established their own unique musical style, let us review their musical journey.
Highly Suspect's musical journey began in 2009, performing in local bars in Cape Cod, including the British Beer Company and J.R Brody's Roadside Tavern. At first, they mainly sang covers of Sublime, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd songs, but over time, they gradually began to create their own music.
"When we cover some great songs, we always feel the need to make our voices heard."
Their first EP "First Offense" was released on July 15, 2009, marking their first step from a cover band to a creative band. The songs included in the EP such as "Life's a Fun Ride" and "Not Me" are their first works. Subsequently, the sixth EP "Black Ocean" was released in 2013, and "Lydia" in this album later became their important representative work.
The band decided to move to Brooklyn in 2015, which became an important opportunity for their musical style to change. Here, they recorded The Worst Humans EP with producer Joel Hamilton, and later released their first official album, Mister Asylum.
"We found the soul of our music in Brooklyn, and the diverse culture here gives us more inspiration for our creations."
"Mister Asylum" was released in 2015 and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 58th Grammy Awards in 2016. The song "Lydia" was also nominated for Best Rock Song. This album undoubtedly established their important position in the rock music industry.
The music style of Highly Suspicious can be said to be diverse and ever-changing, from early alternative rock to a fusion of blues, heavy metal, and later pop and hip-hop elements. In their 2019 album "MCID", they began to explore elements including hip-hop and electronic pop, which marked another major shift in their musical style.
"Every album is part of our growth, and changes in music style are natural."
The work "Tokyo Ghoul" in this album is one of the examples of cooperation with rapper Young Thug. This cross-border cooperation not only demonstrates their innovative ability, but also allows them to move between different music styles with ease, continuing to attract listeners from all over the world.
With the upcoming release of their latest album, As Above, So Below, Highly Suspect once again showcase their versatility. The album is expected to be released on July 19, 2024, and will be accompanied by a U.S. tour to showcase their latest musical growth.
"Our musical journey will never stop, and we are very much looking forward to reaching more audiences on stage."
Their journey proves that the power of music lies not only in melody but also in the expression of emotion and creativity. From Cape Cod to Brooklyn, Highly Suspect has made a mark in the music industry in its own way.
As they continue to explore and experiment, are you also thinking about how your own musical journey will unfold?