The Story of KVRMA And Their Latest Song “The Dream You Made”

What do you get when very talented musicians and vocalists who were previously in separate bands combine to form a new one? You get magic. That’s the word that I chose to describe the new metalcore band KVRMA. Based on the three songs they have released so far, this band is off to a spectacular start and they have a very bright future ahead.

KVRMA originated in Central Pennsylvania, but the band members are spread out over Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  The members include:  Jackson Gurecki (vocals); A.J. Lopez (guitar), Michael Nelson (vocals and guitar); Tyler Travis (bass); and Kyle Wilkinson (drums).

Being involved with the music industry for the last several years, I’ve witnessed bands start and end.  I’ve witnessed good and bad things happen with bands.  But no matter what, the music must go on. Sometimes, change can be positive and lead to something incredible.  The members of KVRMA were in previous projects and have come together to form a band that, in my opinion, could make a big impact not only regionally, but also nationally.

The basic history of KVRMA is that A.J. had left his previous band and had a song he had written. He was planning on reaching out to Jack about it, but, ironically, Jack hit him up first.  A.J. and Tyler knew Jack and Mike from their previous bands playing shows together.  They even admit that they all had secretly wanted to create and play music together because they were so impressed with each other’s talent.  Kyle came into the mix because he knew one of Jack’s former bandmates. It pays to have friends in the industry, and when you find out your friends have similar styles and interests, why not join forces and make amazing music together?

Lyrics of KVRMA songs are written by Jack.  The music is a collaborative effort. Often it will start with a guitar riff of A.J.’s that snowballs into a full song.  All members of the band contribute in the song creation process.  There is no gatekeeping. Producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland of Atrium Audio have played a big role in helping to get KVRMA off the ground. They’ve been involved in all three of the band’s first songs and there is no doubt it’s been a great collaboration.

Before I highlight KVRMA’s newest song, “The Dream You Made”, I want to talk a little about the band’s first two singles. Their debut release, “Silence”, was a fantastic start for KVRMA.  It includes Jack’s stellar vocal range and Mike’s emphatic screams, and the complex interweaving of the guitars and bass combine perfectly with the thunderous drums. The second single, “Eye Of The Angel”, starts out a little softer, but the intensity picks up in the chorus.  This song incorporates electronic elements along with the masterful guitars, bass, and drums, and there are hard vocals in the bridge.

The third and most recent single, “The Dream You Made”, opens with a haunting intro that leads to a heavy guitar riff, then transitions into rap-style vocals by Jack.  He and Mike both sing and do hard vocals on this song.  “The Dream You Made” showcases so many different aspects of this talented band.  I can’t wait to hear future releases from KVRMA! Their expertise and creativity will no doubt lead to more awesome songs. They’ve definitely become one of my favorite bands! I find myself listening to their music often in my car or at the gym.

I asked Jack about “The Dream You Made”, and he shared with me that it’s an anthem for victims of gaslighting.  There is a line in the song that is especially meaningful:
“You seem so ordinary yet you’ve burdened everybody except yourself.”

This is based on a personal experience of Jack’s when an abusive partner said something along those lines to him regarding his autism.  The band is very proud that they were able to take this destructive experience and turn it into something that they hope will validate many people who hear the song.

The music video for “The Dream You Made” was produced by Jon Sambrick.  Jack told me it was meant to be a fusion of two different ideas that he and A.J. had, but due to time constraints, neither one fully came to fruition.  Jack said Jon was “a beast” editing what they were able to film, and the band was really happy with the final product he put together. The video is dark, which fits the theme of the song.  Both the song and video have elements of retro wave and analog horror. The band members are already thinking of how they can use the original concept they had for the video for a future project.

KVRMA will be sharing the stage with New Years Day and LYLVC Sunday, November 3rd at Lovedrafts Brewing Co. in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  Most of the band members have performed at this popular venue in the past, and they appreciate Nick Meyers from 717 Entertainment including them in the lineup. The band is also working on booking other future gigs.  They are hoping to play a lot of shows in 2025 while also continuing to create great music.

If you want to know how you can support KVRMA as they are just getting started on their journey, it’s easy. Follow them on their socials and keep streaming their music and videos and share with friends and family. The band also hopes to see everyone at a future show! KVRMA can be found on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

PHOTO CREDIT: Zak Yachera, Jon Sambrick