Slaves To Humanity

“I love it is this crazy fun party song. While writing it, we wanted people to wanna play this song at parties and just have a bunch of fun to it. We kept kinda pushing that while in the writing process, just to give the song a unique vibe compared to all of our other stuff! With the lyrics, I wanted a chorus that anybody could sing along with. The lyric ‘I love it’ just kinda came to me while working out all the combinations I could have that melody. Nothing really felt right in that spot, until I hit I love it. I sang that line and thought to myself, ‘what do I love?’ And I went with that question and wrote the rest of the song as a feel good party song!” says the band’s vocalist Aidan Amini.

He adds, “I love it is by far one of my favorites (although I say that every time… I just love releasing music!) and I’m so happy that we finally get to release it for everybody to enjoy over the summer!”

The band appeared on Episode 2 and Episode 10 of the show NO COVER – (The only Music Competition show w/ unsigned artists performing original songs). - Enigma Online

SLAVES TO HUMANITY released their brand new single “Shake My Faith” to all digital platforms today via FRAME|WORK.

“Shake my Faith is this hard hitting, and fun rock song, with a riff that has this bouncy groove to it. The lyrics are about being forced into change and the shock of it, which is something the entire world experienced through this pandemic” says the band.

They add, “Working with Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh like always, was a pleasure. They brought in a new perspective that just helped shape the song, giving it its fullness and power. Through the mixing process, the song went through a few phases with Amir, who wanted to get this song to sound phenomenal, and I think he really succeeded with his and our vision, making it an extremely powerful and meaningful song just through his mix.”

“Shake My Faith” can be streamed/downloaded at: https://ingrv.es/shake-my-faith-xvp-2

Slaves to Humanity (STH) is a Sunset Grunge band from Orange County California. It’s members include Aidan Amini on vocals, Pierce Akers on guitar, Shane Ryan on drums, and Nathan Johnson on the bass. Together the band mates create a sound like no other, mixing the melodic guitars of the late 80s era hard rock bands, and the lyrics and vocal sound of the 90s grunge era, as well as throwing modern rock elements all around.

In 2019 they released their first single “BATTLEGROUND” which had success in radio stations and streaming platforms alike. Following this release, during the Covid 19 pandemic, the band released “Behind My Back” which showed even more success. Both singles were the most requested song on KLOS and received heavy rotation on that major radio station for many months throughout the pandemic.

During the pandemic, the band worked hard on putting together their social media presence and continue to do so today, showing success on Tiktok and Instagram. As of April 2022, the band continues to play shows in Southern California as well as build their social media presence - Metal Shock Finland

Going to a show these days can be a daunting thing. Do you wear a mask? Do try to stand six feet away from others? Can you hug? Are there handwashing stations other than the typical “not-so-clean” bar/venue bathroom? Are they accepting cash? Will there be anyone implementing mask or social distancing rules? Will I need to show my proof of vaccine card?
We were lucky enough to be present for one of the first shows in the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse, a week before Orange County opened up into the Yellow Tier. All the worries we had before the show subsided. Last Saturday at Gallagher’s Pub in Huntington Beach, we watched everyone’s favorite up and coming band of young men, Slaves to Humanity.

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If you haven’t already checked out Slaves to Humanity, you need to do so after you read this article! You would never guess that some of the members are still in high school for at least another year and the others are not too far past graduation. We’ve seen Slaves to Humanity play before and one phrase always comes to mind, “They ROCK!”
They started to show off right with their song, “Getting Dark”, then into some old favorites, some covers and some new stuff (or new to some of us). It was a great time to see these young men on stage enjoying the privilege they had to bring us live music once again from an actual concert venue. Gone are the days of watching bands from your couch in pajamas thinking, “What I wouldn’t give to be there!”

The stage was perched in the corner of the room, not that far off the ground. Everyone tried to keep their distance but once the music started there was no holding back. Front man, Aidan Amini kept the crowd engaged with short between-song conversation. There was even a mosh pit at one point.
Being an all-ages show, the crowd varied in age from high schoolers to band parents and family members to local regulars just wanting to check out the show. No matter the age, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the music.
Three-quarters of the way through, Aidan introduced drummer Shane Ryan who then went into a few minute drum solo that blew our collective minds. He’s amazing. Think Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers mixed with Neil Pert from Rush and a sprinkle of Travis Barker (if you don’t him, look him up). It’s rare you get to see a drum solo these days. Bands usually showcase guitar solos (which Slaves to Humanity also does because their guitarist RIPS, he can channel Eddie VanHalen through his fingertips like he was taught by the master, himself!) but having a drum solo was different and great to experience. Drummers get stuck in the back and don’t get to parade around the stage like the rest of the band throughout the show so they can be easily overlooked. Not in this band. They all make sure everyone is a “front-man” at some point.
Slaves to Humanity closed with, “Behind My Back”. With almost 300,000 hits on Spotify alone, it’s clear its a fan favorite (and one of ours, too!) so this was a great choice. The song is catchy and it’s near impossible to sing the chorus without smiling (as Aidan does).

They are working on an album with incomparable producers Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh… you may recognize their names from a little band known as Orgy. Both have been in successful bands since and really know their way around a music studio so Slaves to Humanity has really fallen into the right hands with their first album!
We had such a great time and can’t wait to catch their next show because we see big things ahead for them. You really need to check out this band and see them while tickets are still available to any of their shows because they will soon be selling out stadiums and world-wide tours!
The band is simply electrifying live. The band features Aidan Amini (vocals), Pierce Akers (lead guitar), Nathan Johnson (bass), Max Hickman (rhythm guitar), and Shane Ryan (drums). They’re definitely worth the price of admission. Look for big things from Slaves to Humanity! - OC Music News

Recently I was able to talk to Slaves To Humanity, who have some amazing things to share with everyone. This Orange County based band has found inspiration from 90s grunge and melded it into their own style. They recently released a new single called “I Love It”. Listen to the interview below to learn more about this amazing band! - Deranged Media

According to a recent press release: “Slaves To Humanity released their brand new single “Shake My Faith” to all digital platforms today via FRAME|WORK. Slaves to Humanity (STH) is a Sunset Grunge band from Orange County California. It’s members include Aidan Amini on vocals, Pierce Akers on guitar, Shane Ryan on drums, and Nathan Johnson on the bass. Together the band mates create a sound like no other, mixing the melodic guitars of the late 80s era hard rock bands, and the lyrics and vocal sound of the 90s grunge era, as well as throwing modern rock elements all around. During the pandemic, the band worked hard on putting together their social media presence and continue to do so today, showing success on Tiktok and Instagram. As of April 2022, the band continues to play shows in Southern California as well as build their social media presence.” We get singer Aidan to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

“Shake My Faith” is a hard-hitting hard rock song that just blew us away while writing it. The song was just a Frankenstein’s monster of different parts that we had pieced together within a practice of two, and we were so excited about the outcome!

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I credit my upbringing in music to my dad! He was always playing guitar when I was little, and even joined his own cover band, and he always advocated that I did music! So, one day he took me to a Slash concert, and watching that blew me away, and from that point on, all I could think about was learning guitar and being able to sing like Myles Kennedy!

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Yes! Minutes To Midnight by Linkin Park, changed my perception of incredible music. Our producers Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh we’re both close friends with Chester Bennington, and always talked about how incredible he was as a singer, musician, and human being. At the time, the only thing I had heard from Chester was his cover of “Home Sweet Home,” and I had never really thought much of it. But the deeper I dove into Chester, Dead by Sunrise, and Linkin Park, the more appreciation I had for him, his voice, and his immense talent. Minutes To Midnight has some of my favorite tracks from the band.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Chester Bennington, Myles Kennedy, Chris Cornell, Michael Jackson, and Slash are all people who have inspired me endlessly. When I was younger, I never thought much of musicians past their songs, but as I grew older I came to appreciate these legends as musicians and people.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Personally, I’d love to work with Mike Shinoda, or Gavin Rossdale on a song! Mike Shinoda purely because of his incredible talent with writing instruments and song structures, and making modern sounding tracks that hit hard. That’s another thing I had always loved about Linkin Park. I’d also love to work with Gavin Rossdale, just cause he’s a really nice guy, and I’d love to see how he could guide me lyrically, and I’d be interested to see what he could teach me when it comes to writing vocals, he is an incredible writer and I’d be interested to see what would come out of a song If we collaborated! Although I’d love to work with ANY great musician that comes my way!

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I’d say that our music could be described as a mix of the late 80’s sunset strip hard rock, and the early 90s grunge, we actually label ourselves Sunset grunge for that reason!! Lots of people say we sound like Metallica… which although EXTREMELY flattering, I just don’t hear in our music. If anything the people that say we sound like Soundgarden are closer.



7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

For me the best thing about being a musician is the shows. Whether there is 10 people in the crowd, or 100, playing shows will ALWAYS be fun and every show will always be a unique experience. Concerts are what keep the bands alive and keep them growing, and I just absolutely love that!

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

When the band hangs out, it usually goes as follows… I order a bunch of food… we all play a bunch of card games, and laugh until our stomachs give out… Pierce picks up his guitar and starts shredding… Shane makes an awkward joke that nobody gets… and Nate saves Shane’s joke by making the same exact joke but somehow funnier… and that’s about it. We like hanging out and having fun, and we love just bein ourselves, and despite what it may seem on social media, we’re just a bunch of goofballs who love and treat each other like brothers.

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

The last time I was star struck was on the set of No Cover, a show we did with Sumerian Records where a bunch of bands like us compete for a bunch of prizes and a record deal. On the show, the judges consisted of Gavin Rosdale, Tosin Abasi, Bishop Briggs, Lzzy Hale, and Alice Cooper. Being in the room with those LEGENDS, had me shitting bricks, and it shows on the show!

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Honestly, I have no clue. I mean I have A LOT of hobbies. I play video games, I do graphic design, I like video editing, and I like 3D modeling. I also enjoy code and all the other complicated computer things that nobody ever wants to do, so probably something like that!

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Honestly, at this point in time I have nothing to regret. We’ve been EXTREMELY lucky in our careers which is just incredible. I absolutely love and am proud of everything we’ve done. From working with Scott Holiday, to Ryan and Amir, to Charlie Colin of the band Train, I don’t really think I’d change anything… except maybe my haircut from when we started… that was something else…

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I’d love to have been in the studio when Appetite For Destruction was being recorded. Everything I’ve heard from that album is absolutely insane and I’m very interested in seeing it all play out in person! - 100% Rock