GETTING TO KNOW: VITRUVIA

Vitruvia has been igniting their territory around Southeast, PA. Playing sold out shows and touring the Northeast Coast, it is no secret they are rising their way to the top! Performing on selected tour dates with 40+ national acts such as August Burns Red, We Came As Romans, and I See Stars, has not been a mistake. Metalcore band "For Today's", Ryan Leitru, stated "Vitruvia does better then bands "For Today" tours with. Everything was very tight and harmonies were spot on", along with Altwire.net stating "Vitruvia's stage presence was astounding, showing better skills then major touring bands."

Changes are made in our lives daily. The best part about change is it opens new avenues to pursue and that is exactly what has come. New members, new gear, new sound.

Vitruvia is fronted by the vocal duo of Tanner Detweiler and Dana Hinnershitz, accompanied by Aaron Richardson on lead guitar and Jonathon Knauer on drums.

Vitruvia partnered with Greg Parker of Amped Recording (Gym Class Heroes, Emarosa, Everyone Dies in Utah), Jason Ruch of 0x1 Sound Studio (Metal Blade Records, Universal Records, Sony Records), and Jim Forbes of Clear Track Studios (AC/DC, Eminem, and Katie Perry) for their debut EP "Reborn" and single/cover of Justin Bieber and DJ SNAKE’s “Let Me Love You”, afterwards, working with Unable Music Group to make their music available world wide on countless digital retailers, including iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and MANY MORE!

Vitruvia is a dynamic, hard-hitting, and inspiring American post-hardcore band based in Berks County, Pennsylvania. A fusion of punk, metal, alternative, and progressive rock, Vitruvia’s unique sound provides the perfect medley to get any audience going wild. With engaging and poignant lyrics, each song has intricate beats and catchy riffs that make on-stage performance one of their greatest priorities. Their message of perseverance and strength through life’s darkest times is sure to inspire a whole new generation.

Since their start in late 2009, the band has proven their resilience in the face of adversity and tragedy time and time again. The sudden loss of their second guitarist, Nathan Baker, to a fatal motorcycle accident in mid-2014 took a major toll on Vitruvia, both as individuals and as a band, causing them to think long about the road ahead. They realized they had to stand tall and keep going, a motif that shines through their music and their beliefs. Vitruvia went on tour that year despite their struggles as a three piece band, sharing their story with the world and touching hearts with their music. After returning home, the band brought on the eccentric Christian Howell, not to replace Nate, but to gain a new side to the band. After many tough lineup changes, Vitruvia is back in the studio with Tanner Detweiler on vocals/bass and Kevin Schlosser on drums, revitalized to push harder than ever before.

Vitruvia has shared the stage with the following national acts: Escape the Fate (x2), August Burns Red, We Came As Romans, I See Stars (x2), Attila, Alesana, Our Last Night, Like Moths To Flames, Oh Sleeper, Hands Like Houses, The Color Morale, The Plot in You, Whitechapel, Fit For A King, For Today, Oceano, Slaughter to Prevail, Eyes Set to Kill, Disciple, Wednesday 13, Kissing Candice, Lorna Shore (x2), American Sin, It Lies Within, Widow Maker, Sinners Are Winners, Palisades, Famous Last Words, This Or The Apocalypse, Out Came The Wolves, Saving Abel, Just Like Gentlemen, I Am The Witness, Rivers Of Nihil, For The Win, Ashes Remain, Picture Perfect, Vanna, Superchick, Phinehas, Limbs, From Under The Willow, Carousal Kings, Fire From the Gods, Currents, White Collar Sideshow, The Nearly Deads, One Year Later, and Silversyde (x3). They were also a part of The Extreme Tour, one of the world's largest tours, travelling up and down the Northern East Coast for a short time. Vitruvia plans to leave a bigger mark in 2019 with the hopes of releasing their first full length album.

“Music plays a big part in our lives. If we are going to live by what we listen to, then why not make it positive and uplifting? We do not need negative messages telling us to do things. We need positive messages to uplift us and bring something to everyone's heart. Who can offer this? We can.

We push for a better world” -Vitruvia

Q&A INTERVIEW WITH THE BAND

Q: So how long have you all been together and how did you meet?

Vitruvia itself has been a band since 2009. Long story but from then till now the band has gone through some member changes leaving Dana (guitar/clean vocals) as the only original member of the band. Members have come and gone for various reasons that life can throw at you and even death. One of our members had passed away from a motor cycle accident. Which the band has wrote a song about and can’t wait to share with everyone.

For the members right now. Dana and Tanner (bassist/dirty and clean vocals) knew each other from playing in other bands. Tanner’s projects had gone through similar situations and was either going to rebuild or join another band. A previous drummer and his family had seen Tanner posting about it and told Dana, so the opportunity was there and reached out.

Jon (drummer) had recently moved back to PA from being out in CA for a few years where he was involved in the music scene. While being back in PA there was a mutual friend of Tanner and Jon that had told Jon Vitruvia was looking for a new drummer. We got together and hung out here and there for a few weeks before actually playing any music and loved each others vibes.

Aaron also from PA was living out of state for a while and had recently come back. Dana and Aaron knew of each other from past bands and shows but there was another mutual friend, our photographer Sarah from Bayer Photography, that had known Vitruvia needed another guitarist and saw Aaron had just come back to PA. She got us connected with Aaron.

Q: Where did the name Vitruvia come from?

I, Dana, was in a previous band with original members of Vitruvia called “Road to Nowhere.” That band had broke up but the drummer at that time had a dream that we got back together and while on stage people were chanting Vitruvia. Well a few years later those members and I got back together and were trying to figure out a new name. We remembered the dream and decided to name the band Vitruvia.

Q; Growing up did you all know you wanted to be musicians or was it something you grew in to?

Dana:

For me yes. I didn’t know what that would actually look like growing up but my father and uncles were in a brother band that inspired me to want to be a musician. I went from singing, playing keys, to drums, to guitar. All self taught and picking up from others. I was always singing harmonies at a young age so singing was at the top of the list for being a musician.

Tanner:

Definitely feel I was born to do this. My earliest memory as a kid is trying to help push gear to the bus with my dad. Mom was in a gospel music group when I was young. My dad helped with the sound. I got a mix of both their skills. Mixing and recording audio from dad, being on stage singing from mom.

Jon:

I knew from a young age. Just the fulfillment of listening to music, learning how to play it, and the satisfaction that came from being able to. Music is something you can never get bored with, because there's always a new technique, or style to learn that keeps me striving to be better.

Aaron:

I’ve always loved rock growing up and eventually found myself yearning to play guitar as a teenager. After trying to learn my favorite songs for a few years, a friend from church asked me if I wanted to start a band. I had no idea I would ever write my own music though.

Q: What are some things as a band you’d like to experience that you’ve yet to do?

We would love to be able to do a bigger tour, touring out of country would be an amazing thing, and hitting the summer festival loop in Europe for sure! We have done a lot as a band, small shows, big shows, weekend tours, recorded etc, but nothing along the lines mentioned. Would also love to release new music with the line up that we have now and share these new songs we have been working on for a while with everyone. We have also talked about having our own studio at some point. We have some home studio work stations but have a bigger picture in mind, which Jon has some plans for if things work out, but need time and money for it. Last but not least, relax as roadies move our gear. Even though we slimmed down and don’t use cabs anymore there is still some big items that break our backs every time.

Q: Who are some of y’all’s biggest influences as a band? Any other bands you individually or collectively draw inspiration from?

As a band that would be to hard to answer as everyone’s influences are different. But let’s say we like to take the heavy styles of music and combined them with pop ish elements which gives you an aggressive but yet pleasing sound. So taking bands like Architects, The Ghost Inside, A Day to Remember with the heavier catchy instrumentals, combining that with Pink Floyd felt lead guitar vibes, then mixing that with some Beetles and Beach Boys to get rich harmonies. Yeah pretty weird combination to explain a sound.

Dana:

Personal influences are all over the place, but as mentioned earlier my father and uncle’s band growing up. Then I go from that to bands like A Day to Remember, Our Last Night, Chunk No Captain Chunk, and Wage War, to bands like Motionless in White to Beetles, and yes I loved boy bands back in the day such as NYSNC and Backstreet Boys. Heck still listen to them today from time to time.

Tanner:

Big influence growing up was my mother. She was a singer that was part of a traveling worship team as mentioned earlier. I say was as she had passed away from cancer in my teens. During this time I was into bands like Switchfoot then started to get into heavier music as time went on. Biggest influence is The Ghost Inside. Not only for their music but also their amazing story after their major accident while on tour. Totally worth looking into their story if you don’t already know. Other influences would be Architects, Devil Wears Prada, Nothing More and many more.

Jon:

My musical taste differs as well and have respect for multiple different styles. The Ghost Inside and Nothing More are 2 of my top right now. I even get picked on from Dana (aka - Dad, band dad) because he thinks I only own clothing related to each of those bands, but what can I say? They are great bands and had great merch. However you will also catch me listening to Sleeptoken a lot. Should really check out their drummers play throughs if you haven’t already. I can also go back to the start of Nu-metal such as Linkin Park, Limp Biskit, to 90’s rock to some Emo phased music, then back to some heavier mainstream like God Smack. Then back into heavier stuff like As I Lay Dying. I really just respect music as a whole.

Aaron:

For me it all started with a ride to school. My mom was driving and a song from Pink Floyd came on and their guitar licks got me and needed to get a guitar that moment. Today I love bands like As I Lay Dying, even though everyone in the world has recently left/departed from the band. They must have had thousands of members I guess from all the social media posts that were out there. I also love bands like Devil Wears Prada, Wage War, Nothing More, etc.

Q:What’s the vision for Vitruvia? What direction is the band headed?

The vision. For us it is not about being famous but truly would want nothing more to be able to do what we love and be able to have a carrier and support our families. We put so much time, money and effort into this for it to just be a “hobby.” Direction, maybe a cheesy answer but up. We have high hopes on what we are currently working on and plan to do things differently this time around to really try and push this next project hard! As for our music. If you listen to our discography in order you will see our progression has changed but we keep everything “Vitruvia” our roots are there but they just keep growing.

Q: What is everyone’s favorite song you’ve written and why?

Dana:

It would have to be one of our new songs that is not out yet. One in particular, hits hard on real personal past that has not been talked about but will fully come out in this song. Outside of new songs it’s a combination of 2 songs. Star Bound, and Before I Wake off our last EP Broken World. Star Bound personally hits home for an all around musical song. Has its low moments, high moments, heavy moments, and soft moments. Before I Wake because this song is really fun to play and shows our energetic side. It also has its moments throughout the song. Then from our first EP Broken World I would have to say Breaking Point and Once an Angel. Breaking Point because of its message. Once an Angel because it changes moods throughout the song and just makes it a fun ride.

Tanner:

We have few in the works that I’m super stoked for. Cannot wait for fans to hear them. So much has gone into these new songs. We have overcome a lot as a group and it just makes the new batch of songs that much more special to me.

Jon:

Definitely one of the songs we're working on now. Can't necessarily say yet.. The last few months have been exciting with finding our rhythm in knocking the next album out. The level of understanding and input we have for eachother in the writing process has taken my admiration for these songs to a new level.

Aaron:

Starbound, it pushes our creativity.

Q: What’s been the hardest part of being a successful band so far for you all?

Dana:

LIFE itself. So many obstacles get in the way. It’s hard trying to balance work, family and band, but it doesn’t stop there. Things out of our control that happen on a regular basis. We would not change our family dynamics for anything without our families none of this would be possible. In the end our families arguably sacrifice more than we do to help make this even happen. Without them we would be nothing. Staying relevant in the moment is also difficult as family has to come first so being precent and active on social media but we are working on this aspect and getting better.

Tanner:

The life balance. Balancing home life with work life and band life. Just not enough hours in the day.

Jon:

Definitely the amount of sacrifice it takes from your everyday life. We all have families, full time jobs, and every day life responsibilities to tend to. It's a constant balancing act.

Aaron:

The amount of time and money required to give our fans the best representation of our music.

Q: What’s been the top highlight the band has experienced so far?

We recently played a festival in the state of Indiana called Kingdom Come Fest. Not only did we have a good time but connected with so many different people. People constantly kept coming back to talk with us, purchase merch, etc. it was such an emotional high!

Outside of that our fans we have grown to have. They are amazing. The support they give to us. We wish we could give back more than we already do.

Another big highlight would be the partnerships we have created along the way. Phenyx Pro is a big supporter of us as we are to them. We currently endorse their products for In Ear Monitors, wireless mics, and even wireless guitars. If any other musicians out there are looking for wireless mics and in ears hit us up and we can help you save a small percentage off your purchase.

MSP Guitars, the best feeling and sounding guitars we have put our hands on! Currently working on getting custom guitars from them. While using a MSP Baritone and a headless. WBGear which has helped us connect with SIT Strings, Best Tronics for our cable needs, and In Tune Guitar Picks.

Q: If you could give any new bands any words of advice, what would you each say?

Don’t give up! Push hard! Don’t be afraid to take some risks, in all aspects that is. Use your social media. It is a tool to help you grow. Do better than us on social media. Ultimately give your all and don’t forget to respect those around you, family, friends, fans, other bands etc. Respect can go along way.

Focus on eachother- your band mates before you focus on the music. It doesn't matter if you're a group of amazing musicians. If you can't respect eachother, be open with one another, or have constructive creative differences, it's just a matter of time until it implodes.

Don’t rush into things before you’re ready. Build the band from the core out. Unity and family amongst the members first as stated above. Fully flush out all ideas before taking on the outside world. Make sure you have fun playing together, but again with family as the core focus, if you truly consider your band mates family, then you are already succeeding.