Life & Work with Twisted Escape

Today we’d like to introduce you to v. Them and their team. Share their story with us below:
Justin, James, and Mike have been in the band Twisted Escape for about five years. We were initially a five-piece, and the first record was the brainchild of our former guitarist Carter. It started humbly playing shows at 7th Circle, Bar Bar, and Trailside saloon. Over the years, there were disagreements, and eventually, we stuck together as a three-piece.

The three of us took the time during COVID to focus on our craft. We took the band in a new direction sonically and received a good response once we started playing live shows again. We finally feel like we are gaining traction as a group and mesh together on a deeper level as musicians. We recently recruited a female lead vocalist from another local band, Liquid Titanium, and Erika is an absolute powerhouse of a performer. It feels like that secret sauce that we have been missing. Recently, we played venues that seemed like they were out of reach to us, such as the Oriental and Cervantes. We’re working diligently on raising enough money to release the 3rd album and continue to push for bigger and better shows.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
It’s never a smooth road as a musician. Suppose it was easy for everyone would play music and quit their day jobs (we all still have day jobs). It takes a certain kind of crazy to think that you can make noise that people will want to hear and believe in something collectively that you put hours into. That being said, it brings its problems. Drugs, alcohol, strained relationships, and egos are just some of the hardships every band faces. Luckily, for every setback, there is always a nudge from the universe that keeps us going, whether that be an excellent show or meeting some fantastic people in the scene.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a group, we value everyone’s input as it allows us to tap into what we think is a unique sound. We set out to do what we feel is right and what we are passionate about while trying to have fun along the way. We have our serious material, but we never take ourselves too seriously. Some of our songs are flat-out BS that we thought sounded cool; others are about real issues that veterans face, we even have a song about werewolves, and we write them from a perspective where we want to be accessible. If we come in with an idea, we lay it out, and if it sticks in our heads between practice, we figure it’s catchy enough to sculpt it into something more than an idea.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
James, Mike, and Erika are college-trained musicians, and it helps to be able to communicate ideas with each other, but most of it is just crashing through barriers and making mistakes until we get it right. We’re all pretty well-read in the music industry, and we have each read our fair share of biographies. We probably should pick up a book or two on how to market on social media because it’s just the nature of the beast in this industry, but that sounds like actual work, and we are doing this to have fun, right?

Contact Info:

• Email: Twistedescape.booking@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twistedescape.official/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twistedescape/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkrJvM4pvhXsjvHV0aRgD8w

Image Credits
Fuel The Scene Magazine Kai Frawg Fine Art