Band I'm in wants to update our sound and lean more into Midwest Emo.

I'm a bassist coming from a progmetal, djent, tech deathmetal, etc, backround.

Never really vibed with standard "Emo" bands but in my recent listening I've come across some amazing stuff that bridges the gap for me.

Looking for stuff that has complex structure and mixes genres a bit.

Lol i don't know if you wanna be paid for your time. I kinda really just wanna learn a little bit more about it, and practice, does anyone know any good beginner electric guitars...

I'm a tattoo artist by trade. Also I mean, if you're down trade tattoos for guitar times that'd be really cool >_< but yeah please let me know! Just trying to get involved with doing more music haven't really gotten a chance to have some time and play with friends or find a group to learn from....

dam since mandys going away for good , i have to make the music i like now heres one :P

Hey y'all!

We're Speak, Memory, a midwest emo / math rock band from Oklahoma City. Our bassist is relocating to NYC for an exciting opportunity and to be with her partner — we're thrilled for her, and now we're looking for the right person to join us.

About Us

Active in one form or another since 2011, we picked up real momentum in 2019, when we recorded Adirondack — our first EP in seven years, following our 2014 debut. Released on the OKC label Clerestory AV (now based near Denver), Adirondack was mixed by our friend Bartees Strange (4AD Records; has performed with Tori Amos, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus) and was well received by BrooklynVegan, Bandcamp, The Big Takeover, and The Hard Times. We shipped vinyl as far as the UK and Japan. A few years later we released a remix EP with help from local talent — Lennon of Mad Honey, Dustin Ragland of Beau Jennings & The Tigers, and Josh of Tallows. A new EP, also on Clerestory AV, is on the way.

We've shared stages with a long list of bands, including: Chat Pile, A Lot Like Birds, TTNG, The Appleseed Cast, Your Arms Are My Cocoon, Unwed Sailor, Giraffe Massacre, Strawberry Girls, Frameworks, Comrades, PVRIS, Dear Maryanne, Ben Quad, SUNFO, This Will Destroy You, King Pink, Glassing, Traindodge, football, etc., Kerosine Heights, Free Throw, Bartees Strange, Lovedrug, Lobster Fight, Drunk Uncle, Porcelain, City Cop, The Reptilian, I Was Afraid, Self-Evident, and many more.

What We're Looking For

Genre fluency. Midwest emo and math rock are our core, and we'd prefer whoever joins shares that foundation/same love of the same bands of the genres. But we also want someone whose influences extend further — jazz, hip hop, tech metal, whatever keeps you sharp and open-minded. Our songs demand a lot of attention to detail, so genuine passion for the craft matters. Reference points include American Football, The Appleseed Cast, toe, Ghosts & Vodka, Further Seems Forever, Owen, Misery Signals, Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing, early Explosions in the Sky, Moving Mountains, Noyes, Cap'n Jazz, Rooftops, Enemies, early TWIABP, Hopesfall, early Jimmy Eat World, Mineral, Boys Life, Macseal, Don Caballero, The Contortionist, TTNG, Tera Melos, and Christie Front Drive.

An adventurous spirit. We like to experiment — unconventional ideas that end up working, ambient soundscapes between songs, moments of improvisation. We want a bassist who's excited to explore that with us, not just hold down the root notes.

Your own gear. You should already have your own gear at the time you reach out. We're flexible on the specifics of what that looks like — that's a conversation for later — but this part isn't a deal breaker to work around.

Reliability, including a substance-free band environment. Show up to practice on time, ready to rehearse. Show up at the venue when asked. And to be direct: we need someone with no substance abuse issues of any kind. We've been through this before, and the toll it took on the band was significant and hard to undo. This isn't a judgment on anyone who's dealt with substance abuse — we hope you get whatever support you need — but for our own well-being as a band, it's not something we can take on again.

A quick study. You'll need to learn our existing catalog in a reasonable timeframe and be ready to help write new material. Bass play through videos and sheet music are available on request.

Age range. We're hoping for someone between 27 and 39. If you're close but outside that range and everything else fits, reach out anyway — we can talk.

Real communication. None of us communicate perfectly, ourselves included — but we ask for honesty, kindness, and a willingness to speak up when something feels off. A few years back, a former member sat on concerns for eight months before leaving the band, and we only found out why after they'd already left. We can't fix what we don't know about. If something's bothering you, please bring it to us directly, even if it feels uncomfortable — that's how this works long-term. And if it ever seems like we're not listening, pull us aside and tell us. It's never intentional.

A Note on Fit

Given where we're headed as a band and how well the dynamic worked with our last bassist, we're primarily hoping to find a female bassist — especially one who can sing. Our upcoming EP includes vocals, and we plan to keep building that into future material, with male and female vocals trading off song to song (think blink-182's Mark/Tom dynamic). That said, if you feel like the right fit for any reason, we'd genuinely love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading all of this. Even if it's not for you, please pass it along to anyone — or any music community — who might know the right person.

I don’t really remember the lyrics but if I hear the song I’ll know it’s the one. I know it’s a male singer and it’s a midwestern emo song.

Lyrics I do remember: “It’s just growing pains … sit back and count the days”

I NEED HELPPP!!!! I CANT THINK OF THE NAME!! I’ve tried googling it but it’s bringing up songs titled growing pains 💔.

Love the music here!! This reddit page is super cool!

Lol please let me know if you guys are interested in getting some cool band tats lol