Music Q&A with Nick Sturz of Wilder.
Photo by Erick Frost
Southern California indie-rock duo, Wilder., released their debut EP, BAD BAD LUCK last month via Rude Records and it rules! BAD BAD LUCK is a high-energy collection of indie-punk songs reflecting on the band members’ experience as young adults in the church and their journey making a fresh start. Wilder.’s drummer, Nick Sturz, took some time to answer some questions about their EP, his earliest musical memory, favorite band to see live, and more!
Congratulations on the release of BAD BAD LUCK! What does the EP mean to you?
Thank you! I’d say that in short, it really represents where we are today on a personal note. Having come out of the past 10 years doing our old band, leaving the church, and learning to really be ourselves unapologetically, we feel we’ve come full circle to a new place and a page has turned in our lives.
What’s your favorite song off the EP and why?
Speaking for myself (Nick), and I think Stephen might agree, we really love the title track “Bad Bad Luck”. It’s by far the grooviest track, and is a great pointer to the future of our sound. We really want to push ourselves to write new kinds of music that expand past the rock genre.
What is your earliest musical memory?
This is a super good question. Honestly for myself, I’d say it was being around 3 or 4 years old and being around family cookouts, they’d be blasting some kind of LA gangster rap or KROQ. Those were the I sounds I remember earliest.
Who has been your favorite band to see live?
It’s been a while since I’ve been to a proper show, but pre-pandemic I’d seen Stick To Your Guns and Rotting Out more times than I can count. I really would like to see The Midnight live some day.
If you had a chance to collaborate with a musician, dead or alive, who would it be?
If we are shooting for the stars, I feel that some sessions Bootsy Collins could give us the funk, Freddie Mercury could teach us the ways of attaining masssive rock sounds, and doing a collab with Post Malone would just be a full blown vibe.
What is your favorite thing about making music?
I think it‘s got to be connection you can make with your audience during a live show. Like if you have a really intimate performance and people are really digging the music, it’ll kind of put everyone into a trance that’s pure emotion and feeling. At least from what I know, those experiences can’t be bought or replicated through technology. You have to do it in person, and once it’s gone, its gone.
This last year/year and a half has been hard for bands and music fans because tours didn’t take place. What’s one thing you've missed about touring?
For me, the funnest part of touring is when everyone is at the venue, and the crowds start showing up, and everyone just starts to party / hang with audience members, with bands, with crew, etc. And then you get to perform which is the best feeling on earth. And then you get to do that for like 2-3 weeks straight. It’s really a dream come true!
What helps you stay positive?
Definitely keeping close to our families, and like 4-5 closest best friends. That, and making whatever efforts can be done to help those around us who may be in need. LA county has a massive homeless population, and people need help. I try to make a point lend a hand whenever possible.
Any last words or final message for the readers?
You don’t need anyone’s permission to be yourself unapologetically. That, and the world is currently a messed up place. More so now than in recent years. There is much work to be done in regards to equality for black and brown folks, LGBTQIA, women’s rights, wealth inequality, the list goes on. Always fight for more, and remember there’s more of us than them.
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