We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nate Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nate , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

This project has taken on a few different forms over the years, but the version of the band we have now—the five of us—it really came together about a year ago. We’ll be hitting that one-year mark this June, and honestly, it feels like everything clicked into place once we settled into this lineup. That’s when things started to feel more focused, more intentional, and we all began to take it a lot more seriously.

The real shift happened when Cooper Marx joined the band. His addition totally changed the dynamic in the best way possible. The way we write now is much more collaborative, more fluid, and it brought a whole new layer of creativity into the mix. It felt like we had finally found our sound—something that truly represents who we are.

What makes this project feel so worthwhile is the chemistry between us. It’s rare to find a group of people who are not only musically aligned, but also genuinely excited to build something together from the ground up. We’re not trying to follow anyone else’s blueprint or ride a wave—we’re just doing what feels honest to us, and that’s what keeps it exciting.

Right now, we’re getting ready to record our first full-length album, which feels like a huge milestone. It’s not just another batch of songs—it’s the first time we’re really putting down something that captures where we are creatively as a band. That’s a big deal for us.

In the end, it wasn’t about solving some grand problem—it was about following a feeling. We knew we had something special here. The energy in the room when we play together, the way the songs come to life—that’s what told us this was worth pursuing. And so far, it’s been the most rewarding thing we’ve done.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

We’re a five-piece band that’s all about playing live, connecting with people through energy, and creating music that feels real and alive. Performing live is at the heart of everything we do—we try to hit the stage as often as we can because that’s where the magic happens for us. There’s just something about the energy in the room when we’re on stage—it fuels us, and we like to think it fuels the crowd, too.

The kind of music we play leans into that high-energy, emotional experience. We’ve always made it a point to bring intensity and authenticity to every show. Over time, we’ve built a reputation for having strong live performances, and that’s something we’re really proud of. At our shows, we usually bring some merch along, it’s cool seeing people want to support us like that and it gives us a chance to talk with fans one-on-one.

What sets us apart is that we’ve stuck with it. This isn’t just a hobby for us—it’s a commitment we’ve carried for the past three years. There’ve been ups and downs, of course, but we’ve kept pushing forward, and we’ve seen real progress because of it. That growth, both as musicians and as a unit, is something we’re incredibly proud of.

We’re not trying to be a copy of anything else out there—we’re just doing what feels honest and putting our own voice into the world. And as long as people keep showing up and connecting with what we’re doing, we’ll keep giving it everything we’ve got.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

We’ve been completely self-funded from the start. Everything we’ve built has come out of our own pockets—gear, recordings, travel, you name it. To help cover some of those costs, we sell merch at our shows—things like hats, shirts, pins, and other little items fans can take home. We also make some money from playing gigs, but every penny we earn goes right back into the band. Whether it’s saving up for studio time or printing new merch, we reinvest everything to keep things moving forward.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Our live shows have definitely been a big part of building our reputation. We bring a ton of energy and intensity every time we play—we don’t hold back. There’s a raw, unfiltered edge to what we do that leans into that true rock/punk attitude, and people seem to really connect with that. It’s not just about playing the songs—it’s about making sure every show feels alive and memorable.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashplanet217?igsh=Y2Z4anV5OWZvOWcz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/12GfRkMzzpd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@crashplanet217?si=3oiAchPkLf66uXZ4
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1DjYUmTeFPthOnpiBUdU7U?si=07O1PqT_SN-onApj71HEag

Image Credits

Bree Harvey
Matt Klose