Last fall in her Music Business class at FAU Alexxx Calise met Danny Leeds. “I thought he looked like an interesting guy so I went and introduced myself; before I knew it we were starting a band,” said Calise, guitarist and lead singer of Wakestate. Carlos Alejandro, a drummer, and Adam Camarena, a bassist, joined the duo after meeting Leeds, Wakestate’s lead guitarist, at the Naka Mal, a kava bar in East Boca. In two short months Wakestate has gone from a start-up student rock band to an in-town hit.
With an eclectic mix of hard rock, metal, and blues, Wakestate is not your average rock band. Their insatiable passion for music and diverse influences like Soundgarden, The Doors, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Stone Temple Pilots make them a unique four-piece act – a Janis Joplin meets Candlebox. Although they have only been together for two months, they have “rocked” the area with their hot music and original lyrics. Like most bands they sing about bad experiences, failed love, and social issues. However, Calise, who writes most of the band’s lyrics, adds her own special touch with paradoxical and existential themes.
They may not be signed yet but they are well on their way to stardom with their first self-titled CD already out and nine shows under their belt, including their most recent performance: a tsunami relief benefit show at the Culture Room. According to Calise they already have a following. More than fifty people showed up to hear them play at the Culture Room on Jan. 1.
Their success may be attributed in part to the band’s great chemistry. “We love each other. We don’t fight much; we are very professional,” Calise said. Wakestate is all about the music. Although they describe their image as “borderline offensive” their message is “positive energy and the importance of being yourself,” she said.
The band got their name from a quote in a movie. Calise explains that ‘wakestate’ is a state of the brain during the sleep cycle in which one is conscious yet sleeping. Speaking about their mood when they perform Calise said, “We get in the zone. It’s like home for us, like we are where we are supposed to be.”
In the near future the band hopes to “get hooked up” with a big record label and make a living out of doing what they love most: making music. Make sure to keep an eye open for these up-and-coming stars. To get on their mailing list for performance dates and other info send an email to [email protected]. Also check out their websites: www.wakestate.com and www.myspeace.com/wakestate for more info about the band and cool concert pictures. Also, you can email the band at [email protected] if you want to buy their CD for five bucks.
