Islander

2020-2021 Band Bio

In November 2021 I was hired to write a new band biography for Islander for use with a series of singles released through Better Noise Music. I interviewed the band at length before creating three unique takes on their story for review. We then collaborated further throughout the editing process before deciding on the best fit for the group.

Islander’s official bio:

Islander understands that complacency is the deadly enemy of spiritual progress. The South Carolina band — Mikey Carvajal, Chris Carvajal, and Eric Pedersen — refuses to grow stagnant with time by challenging themselves to evolve continually. No two singles are alike, yet the group finds a way to make the combination of their vast influences work together in a manner unlike anyone else. You cannot call what Islander does rock or rap or even nu-metal. They make music that moves people, plain and simple, and that's all they want to do.

"We're a very intimate band in that I want to be there and hear people's stories," says Mikey Carvajal. I'm not in this to be a rockstar. If that was ever the case, and it was about money or fame, I just wouldn't do it. I'm only here because I genuinely love people, and I want to see them do good in their lives. I want us to continue to spread love, hopefully on a higher level than before."

Now a decade into a career built with that mission in mind, Islander continues to grow a global fanbase by listening to their hearts. The band writes from a place of love and empathy channeled into raucous music that can incite mosh pits and comfort those who feel alone. It's a delicate balance between chaos and focused effort that only Islander can perfect, and it's because of that combination that the group remains one of the most versatile names in entertainment today.

"If you speak about real things, they will remain relevant," says Carvajal. "We all have skin and bones and blood. We're all human beings trying to make it in this world. The most important thing is being there for people, and our music allows us to do that."

Islander heads into the new year with high hopes and a bevy of material. Four years of writing and recording has given the band their most diverse and collaborative music to date. From the rallying cries of "Freedom" to the meditative flow of "Crazy Crazy World" and beyond, Islander is creating a space for listeners to process the madness of today and find hope for a better tomorrow.