Young musicians find road to fame a 24/7 job

Among the handful of college and professional bands playing at this year’s Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Block Party on Mill Avenue was a high school alternative-rock group called The Nevaeh (ne-VAY-ah).

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The band was featured among multiple stages of popular bands such as Young Guns, with Jimmy Eat World headlining the event.

For young musicians who started playing together while still in middle school, they’re experiencing an impressive run of popularity and, according to their producer, are on a fast-track to producing hit songs.

They’re already in the process of recording their first album, featuring eight songs, at Epicenter Studios.

“My dad is our manager,” said Nick Kwilosz, who performs lead guitar and vocals. “He was talking to the guy that works at (Milano Music Center in Mesa); he’s the lead singer’s dad from Jimmy Eat World, which we didn’t know at the time,” said Nick. “He hooked us up with the (Block Party) gig.”

The group was founded when the members were at Pueblo Middle School, originally performing at their eighth-grade talent show under the name “The Nevaeh.” A few weeks later they changed their name to “The Customs” and made an appearance on ABC15’s morning news.

But their friends liked the old name better, and the members decided to stick with their original choice.

Today, the group is comprised of Nick and Matt Kwilosz, identical twins who are seniors at Corona del Sol High School; Dylan Dubek, a junior at Marcos DeNiza High School; and Jonathan Falasco, a senior at Mountain Pointe High School. Dubek recently replaced the group’s original bass player.

Nick traced the group’s evolution over the past four years.

“I started playing bass when I was 10, and I decided to start a band because it was something I always wanted to do,” Nick said. “I had this vision in my head.”

Nick said he was kicked out of his first band after he introduced the members to a song he wrote, called “Drifting Away”. The song will be featured on the group’s new album, due out in February.

“Over the years, we worked on dynamics,” said Nick’s brother Matt.

“We wanted to have some slow songs and some fast songs; we didn’t want everything to sound the same on the album once it comes out.”

After playing at a variety of local venues, including the Clubhouse, the Red Owl and numerous times at Golfland Sunsplash, the band began to get a feel for “real life in the music industry.”

“Before, I thought you just go out and rock on stage for a little bit – now, I realize it’s much different,” Nick said. “It’s a 24/7 job, and there are also a lot of sharks out there that will rip you off.”

Jonathan Falasco, lead guitar and vocals, said the group is always checking out other bands at local shows to get an idea of the competition.

“Nick and I are always focusing on vocals,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how good the band is; vocals make it or break it.”

Nick and Matt said they grew up with many musical influences, from their grandfather to classic rock bands.

“My grandpa is a country rock star in a way. He’s done plenty of albums, so he was a huge influence on us,” Nick said. “He’s the one who taught me the bass scales, and I just kind of grew from there playing guitar.”

Other influences include modern bands and classic rock bands, such as Boston.

He recalls family pool parties with Boston blaring in the background.

“I remember we’d go to the pool, and my dad would always blast Boston,” Nick said. “I just kept that guitar harmony sound.”

Working with their producer, the band is optimistic about jumping into the industry.

“I think that if we play our cards right, we have enough hit songs to make it out there,” Nick said. “John Weil, our engineer, thinks we have at least three songs that have Top 40 potential.”

Jonathan said he sees more and more people becoming aware of the group’s music.

“We have people now who know our songs – the chorus and everything, and that’s flabbergasting,” he said.

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