Emerging from an enveloping haze of artificial fog and bathed in the glow of deep red lighting, the Las Vegas duo known as Spelling Hands takes the stage. Their music, characterized by resonating industrial beats, weighty synth crescendos, and dynamic vocals that channel personal perspectives on the gritty truths of life, transports audiences into a realm of somber intensity.
Describing their sonic essence, beatmaker Bryan Bermudez draws a vivid analogy, stating, “It’s as if Danzig picked up a synthesizer and drum machine instead of a guitar. There’s a little bit of hardcore, a little bit of electronic, and a whole lot of witchy stuff going on.”
The nineties house music scene profoundly influenced the duo’s distinctive sound. Growing up, both Bermudez and vocalist Michael Angelo were exposed to the world of hard techno, a genre deeply embedded in their Mexican American cultural milieu.
Recalling those formative years, Angelo shares, “I shared a bedroom with my older brother, and his wall was covered in rave posters. Sometimes his friends would come over in their Depeche Mode and Cure shirts. They were these Mexican kids who threw raves.”
Angelo’s involvement in the local music scene during the peak of the Huntridge Theater and Sanctuary era further shaped his musical journey. Bermudez credits Angelo for introducing him to the world of underground music, igniting an enduring passion for exploring novel sounds. The two friends established their first punk cover band, The Revenants, at the tender age of 13 and have been collaborating on various projects, both together and individually, for over two decades.
The inception of their current project, Spelling Hands, coincided with the COVID-19 lockdown. Reflecting on that period, Bermudez shares, “I used to fantasize about something stopping time, and quarantine gave me the chance to be locked in my room and be creative.”
With a distinct vision for his beats, Bermudez recognized that Angelo was the perfect vocal complement. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, the duo recorded vocals within a makeshift microphone booth ingeniously set up in Bermudez’s apartment bathroom. Angelo recalls their initial reaction to that first song, stating, “We heard that first song and thought, yeah, this is a band.”
The moniker “Spelling Hands” encapsulates multiple layers of meaning, symbolizing conjurers using their hands for spellcasting, communication through symbols, and even a nod to the gang culture that framed their upbringing.
Their initial songs capture a snapshot of time, infused with raw aggression and simmering anger, reflective of the tumultuous era we collectively experienced. As of now, Spelling Hands has chosen the EP format over a full album release, recognizing the contemporary trend of shorter attention spans.
Following the launch of their debut EP, “Practice Secret Forms of Culture,” in 2021, the duo invested time in refining their sound before diving into live performances. The evolutionary journey continued as they took to the stage. With an extensive network within the music community, their talent was swiftly recognized both locally and in Los Angeles.
One aspect that Bermudez and Angelo take pride in is Spelling Hands’ diverse performance history. From hardcore shows hosted by the local collective Blackpath Booking to goth nights in LA and a range of punk events, the duo refuses to be confined by genre labels. Angelo emphasizes, “Electronic music usually gets put in a box. Luckily for us, Vegas hasn’t put us in a category.”
