More Than A Sound, It’s How We Feel: Following The Rise of a New Rock Voice

A Conversation With Cleveland Rock Duo Chris Bianchi and Brian Lamtman

by Jason Eugene 

   My first encounter with the Cleveland rock band How We Feel was pure happenstance, a collision of worlds on the gritty, cinematic set of their music video for the single, “Make It Out Alive.” The location, a sprawling, decaying industrial building at Cedar and Ashland, made famous through TV shows and movies like the Avengers. Surprisingly, it was familiar territory for me; one of those perfectly urban, graffiti-laden spots that adds a raw texture to the city—a haunt for local FPV drone racers like myself, its tagged-up walls can be seen in a lot of my drone video content. I was there on assignment that day, tasked with capturing behind-the-scenes photos for a local blog, stepping into their world more as an observer than a seasoned rock aficionado, to be quite honest. While my appreciation for music runs deep, with bands like Radiohead and Kings of Leon shaping my playlists, even oldies from Motown to most recent pop stars like Beyonce, the specific contours of the rock genre, particularly the vibrant local Cleveland scene, were largely uncharted territory for me.

   Yet, there was an undeniable energy pulsating from that set, a raw authenticity emanating from the band as they worked under the direction of local producer / director, Jake Cole. Having been on many sets during my time in Los Angeles, that day something shifted; a local music group, born from Cleveland’s own distinct spirit, had unexpectedly captured my attention. What I was expecting versus what happened was me caught off guard, which was rare occurrence, as I’m a person always prepared for anything. What unfolded was a feast of creative synergy between many collaborators and producers, all living and breathing their joy, and creating magic together. It took me back for a moment… moments for fun times, good memories, and LA days under the sunshine.

   Fast forward a few short months, and the scene changes again. I find myself walking into a Cleveland’s newest music venue hotspot, Globe Iron in The Flats to meet the guys behind How We Feel once more. And yet again, in true rock and roll fashion, the entire experience rock! Full access to front and back of house, plus backstage and one-on-one interviews, the nostalgia kicked right back in again. Prior to their live premier at Globe Iron, Chris and Brian, the brainchild behind How We Feel, spoke via phone in our discovery interview. From their almost folkloric origin story to the palpable buzz surrounding their debut album, and their unique, self-directed style in all they do, it’s clear they operate on their own terms. Their new album, a powerful collection of sonic storytelling that confronts inner demons and celebrates resilience, hinted at something far deeper and more resonant than the usual rock refrains you hear today. For the first time, a band rooted in my own city, not some distant global mega-group, had thoroughly sparked my curiosity, compelling me to explore their music and their journey more completely.

   At the heart of it all are two lifelong friends: Chris Bianchi (Vocals) and Brian Lamtman (Drums). Their bond isn’t a recent industry fabrication but a connection stretching back over two decades, forged in an unlikely crucible: the high school detention hall. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s a cinematic origin story, albeit one set against the backdrop of adolescent defiance and a shared, burgeoning passion that would, years later, find voice. Having interviewed the guys, here’s what they had to say about themselves, their music, and what success truly means to them in a place like Cleveland….

This shared passion for music, a resonant language of sonic beats, became a crucial connecting thread for Chris and Brian, extending far beyond those early days of when they were more youthful and rebellious. Their journey, however, wasn’t a straight line to their current musical endeavor. They “did some other band stuff together over the years”, and they even ventured into the business side of the industry, founding CB Entertainment and booking shows in the Cleveland area at legendary local venues like Peabody’s.

   Though their paths diverged at times – Chris eventually taking the helm of CB Entertainment, and Brian launching smoke shops with his wife – their foundational connection, their mutual understanding remained steadfast and solid. So, when the decision came to reignite their musical partnership, it was intrinsic for the pair. As Brian himself put it, playing music together again with Chris felt like “the only option”.

   This mutual regard as two artists, what I’d playfully dubbed “a true bromance” during our conversation, is palpably the engine driving their unwavering creative output. The speed and intensity with which their debut album materialized – ten striking tracks produced in the last year – speak volumes about their innate creative synergy and a workflow that clearly meshes with an almost effortless ease. It is rather shocking quite honestly, and rather exhausting to even fathom.

   Their debut single, “Make It Out Alive,” serves as a potent introduction to their sound and ethos. It’s an anthemic track, characterized by gritty guitars, propulsive drums, and soulful vocals, all coalescing to articulate a message of overcoming obstacles. Chris described the song’s intent as being “positive and motivational,” a deliberate contrast to the negativity he perceives as often prevalent in current media. “It speaks to the idea of facing one’s own struggles and demons and making it out alive through the challenge,” he elaborated. The lyrics further underscores a message of being durable or resilient, with lines like, “I need all I need to fix myself when I’m trying to let go of my trouble I’m facing. I’m pushing the bottom of my heart. I know I will not fall. I will not bow to my demons. I will make it out…” Listening to it, one can’t help but feel an almost spiritual undercurrent, a raw plea and a powerful declaration woven into one. This focus on perseverance certainly echoes Bianchi’s earlier sentiments about battling failure and reminding oneself that you can achieve almost anything should you make the choice to overcome.

   For Lamtman, as the band’s drummer, translating these deeply personal battles into the language of music is an almost elemental, if not a cathartic process. He feels their music “all just comes from an inner place within”, with each song taking on its own shape and feeling as it develops. Ironically, the songs and their album are summed up perfectly in the band’s name, “How We Feel”. When I inquired how they select which songs make an album and which get cut, their answer pointed directly back to the philosophy embedded in that very name.

  This dedication to authentic feeling naturally extends to the visual interpretation of the band’s music, which the they consider with equal artistic weight. The music video for “Make It Out Alive” is a compelling example, featuring the remarkable Paralympic star LaQuinta “LQ” Hanes and her inspiring journey of learning to walk again. A powerful visual metaphor which wasn’t accidental; it was deliberately chosen to showcase the song’s broad application to a spectrum of human struggles—from physical recovery to battling addiction—allowing viewer to connect it to their own life, their own narrative, their own reality. Interestingly, the Chris and Brian didn’t have a prior relationship with Hanes; she was a thoughtful suggestion from their director, Jake Cole.

   Cole, who also directed the band’s music video for their song “Ready for War”, was specifically brought on board for his distinctive filmmaking experience. Chris and Brian were adamant about wanting “a different vibe,” aiming to “incorporate story lines, incorporate feeling, and put somewhat of like a film, sort of feeling with the music”.

   Crafting their ten-song debut album in just a year was, by any measure, an intense undertaking, undoubtedly fraught with its own challenges and setbacks. The majority of the album was recorded at the band’s Warehouse Studio in Kent, Ohio, with seasoned music engineer John Burke handling the engineering for Chris’s vocals and Brian’s drums on all ten tracks. The crucial roles of production and mixing were largely helmed by Paul Bartolome, of Asking Alexandria and Escape The Fate acclaim, with whom Chris shares a long-standing professional relationship, managing Paul’s solo career. This existing synergy undoubtedly smoothed the collaborative process. Yet still, I can’t skip over the level of energy, time and dedication it must have taken to pump out ten songs on twelve months time.

   The final polish, the mastering, was entrusted to none other than Grammy Award-winning sound master Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound who is based in London, UK. For Chris and Brian, securing Jensen—an “icon in the mastering world” revered for his work on legendary albums like The Eagles’ Hotel California, Green Day’s seminal records, and music by Evanescence —was an incredible win, a monumental step for a band forging its path from the Midwest.

   The album itself is intentionally designed as a journey, and when listening to it, and my overall experience of connecting with Chris and Brian and their team, it has certainly felt like a journey… a discovery of some things new, and revisiting some things which have already passed. Listening to it from start to finish, as I did, it truly began to resonate on a deeper level, the arc of its emotional landscapes taking me back through my own memories of triumph wrestled from the jaws of failure. I had genuinely connected with the message and feeling Chris and Brian hoped to deliver, a testament to their ability to translate raw emotion into a universally accessible experience, albeit through the unfamiliar lens of local rock.

   Their own personal struggles, including navigating the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the music business, have deeply informed the album’s thematic core according to Bianchi. Chris also candidly described the music industry itself as a “double edged sword”, and admitted that the pandemic era was “pretty crushing,” a period that saw many bands and music-related businesses crumble. It forced a reckoning, raising the agonizing question of whether to give up or to dig deeper and keep pushing forward. Ultimately, their unwavering love for music and their commitment to their vision propelled them through the uncertainty and a few dark moments. And in today’s ever changing and evolving music industry, where traditional markers of success are constantly shifting and glitching, the very definition of “making it” has become increasingly complex and personal. Given the introspective nature of their album and the lingering sense of uncertainty that hovers in the cultural atmosphere of today, it felt only befitting to pose this question to them: what does success truly look like for you? Here’s what they had to say to my probing questions…

   Their creative output, fueled by a genuine drive, continues unabated. They’ve already been back on set, working on another music video for their next single, “Devil Inside.” Following “Make It Out Alive,” which tackles overcoming inner demons, “Devil Inside” promises to delve even deeper into those internal battles. Lamtman clarified that “Devil Inside” focuses more on the inner demons people face within, such as depression or anxiety, whereas “Make It Out Alive” can encompass struggles on the outside that one is trying to get through.

   The Globe Iron show was, in a word, amazing. The entire experience, amplified by the rare privilege of full access to both front and back of house, was priceless. It was the kind of night that made me genuinely wonder why it had taken me so long to truly appreciate the raw power and intimacy of local rock scene. That experience, that particular evening of music and entertainment delivered as it should be, was the kind of stuff usually reserved for the glossy pages of Rolling Stone, NME, or Spin. Launching their debut album in their hometown, the home of rock and roll, clearly held personal significance for Bianchi and Lamtman, and by the end of the night, for me as well. Brian had emphasized the importance of the venue’s talent buyer, also named Chris, the former owner of the legendary Cleveland venue Peabody’s and a long-time friend. This connection, like so many aspects of their journey, underscored the deep roots and supportive relationships that have helped nurture their rise.

   So, what’s next for How We Feel as they ride this wave of momentum? The band is pressing forward with upcoming shows, including a coveted spot at the Inkcarceration Festival in Mansfield, Ohio, this July. When a train is in motion and speeding down the track with this kind of energy, the only sensible thing to do is to ride it. And that’s precisely Chris and Brian’s intention—focusing primarily on fan building, embracing the experience of a festival-level performances, and sustaining the incredible high of this moment.

For someone like me, initially an observer from the periphery of their genre, their journey has been an illuminating exploration into the very heart of creative passion. They are carving their name not just into the local Cleveland scene, but into the broader arenas of music, proving with every chord and every lyric that sometimes, the most powerful statement you can make is simply to show the world How We Feel.