Rewind

Vanessa Huang

Rewind is a Twin Cities-based band composed of Maddie (guitar), Mariah (guitar), Harper (bass), Haley (vocals), and Bela (drums). They play straightedge hardcore music. I sat down with the band to discuss their music journey.

What is the inspiration behind the name Rewind?

Maddie: So, Haley and I decided on the name Rewind because, specifically, there is a song that I used to really like called “Can We Start Again” by this band Bane. They had these lyrics: “Can we start again? / Go back to what it meant back then.” I was like, “Oh, that’s kinda cool; it has a really cool meaning.” We were like, “What kind of word would symbolize…” And then we were just like, “Oh, rewind.”

Haley: In my head, it was because there was a song by this band called Mental, who I really like, and it’s called “Rewind.” [It’s got] multiple meanings!

How did the band form?

Haley: Oh my gosh, Caydence Fest 2025. This band…

Mariah: I think it was Life Light.

Maddie: [From] Omaha.

Haley: They covered “Off My Chest” by Carry On, and I just did a lot of mic grabbing for that song.

Maddie: They gave her the microphone a little bit, and she was screaming the lyrics.

Haley: And Maddie came up to me, and she was like, “Wanna start a band?”

Maddie: I was like “You sound really good, you can sing low-key, you got that. And so we started the band!” At first, it was just me and Haley, and then I was like, “Mmm, I wonder who we can have play bass, so I texted Harper. I’ve known Harper since I was like 8, and we used to go to this girls rock summer camp together called She Rock in the Cities. So I was like, “Hey, do you want to be in this band?” And she was like, “Yes.”

Harper: Now we have a second guitarist, Mariah, and Bela.

Maddie: Yep, and then Mariah joined in spring of this year.

What made you want to make music, or inspired you to start making music seriously?

Haley: Hardcore has just meant so much to me over the years that I’ve been in the Twin Cities scene, and music has always meant a lot to me, even when I was a kid. It’s just always been a big part of my life, and actually making it and making art for people to hear and witness with shows and stuff is just really cool to me.

Harper: For me, I just want to play my instrument and do what I can with it. But through this band, there’s been so many things that have come out of it. I think I’ve very much progressed in my instrument, which is super dope. And then just meeting so many people. Before Rewind, I didn’t know Haley, I didn’t know Mariah, [though] I knew Bella and Maddie. Contributing to the scene in that way and being able to connect with so many people through this art and through music is such a cool experience. It’s really fun to just make music, to just play with your friends; and get on stage, have fun, and play something that you like.

Maddie: When I was younger, I always really wanted to be in a band. When I was around 14, I specifically was like, “I want to be in a hardcore band really bad,” but I hadn’t progressed very well at my guitar skills because I hadn’t really applied myself. So I just tried really hard to keep practicing, and then one day I was like, “Let me start a band—that fell through. Then I started another band, and that fell through. Then I was like, “This one’s not gonna fall through, it’s not happening.” And it didn’t happen, and same with Harper, I feel like I’ve progressed so much at my guitar skills [and] writing my own music because I’ve never been able to before. It helps a lot, learning these covers that we play that are probably some of the hardest songs I’ve ever played. I think the other aspect is [that] I can’t back out of it because I have to do it, so that also helps.

Mariah: For me, I’ve always been very alternative my entire life. Music was always very important to me, like everyone else, but when I went to my first show, I think I really found a sense of community. I feel like growing up, I didn’t really have a sense of an alternative community to belong with. Like, I was always the really fucking weird kid. Wait, sorry, I didn’t mean to swear. I just enjoyed seeing that so many people can come together in such a small space, be there for each other, enjoy music and dance, and also see people play music and have fun. I’d always wanted to play an instrument, but it wasn’t something I really put much effort into, and when I started my first band, I taught myself how to play bass. I think that really intertwined my love for hardcore was that I was also making the music, and I was actively learning how to play a new instrument. Seeing all the people come out, support us, and buy our merch, and give us our flowers was really dope. With Rewind, I’ve deepened my skills in learning guitar, and seeing even more support for young people is really beautiful.

Haley: I’d like to add to what Mariah said about always being a weirdo like your whole life. I’ve always related to that, [and] I’ve always been the black sheep and the oddball in every space I went to before I found hardcore. Then when I found hardcore, something just clicked. There was just an outlet that I could put my emotions and feelings towards. Especially [as] a vocalist and writing lyrics, I can put out my frustrations in that way. It just means a lot to me.

Maddie: I agree with that as well. I’ve always listened to a little bit heavier music, people would say, and I didn’t really present as alternative when I was younger, partially out of fear of what my peers would think in middle school and high school. It was kind of rough. And when I did, I would get shit for it. I used to hear this a lot. My old friends would be like, “Maddie, shut up and just go listen to your rock music.” And I was like, “How dare you? Like, how dare you, girl?” It was so weird, but now I have people that relate to me, enjoy the type of music that I like, and dress the way that I like.

Harper: The biggest thing that I like about the scene that we’re in and making music. In this community, no matter where you are in your life, you’re all together. You’re all in the same boat. If you play a shit show, no one’s gonna be like, “Dude, that was really bad, like, I can’t believe you.” People will be like, “You’re playing music, you’re doing this, and that’s awesome. It’s just so much love for everything.

How was playing at Twin Cities Edge Day?

Harper: Awesome!

Maddie: It was so good, it was so insane and crazy.

Haley: Amazing. I think [it was] one of my favorite shows that we’ve ever played.

Maddie: It was generational. It’s going in history books, I swear.

Harper: I think my favorite part was we made these hockey masks that glow in the dark from Spirit Halloween, and they had “STRAIGHT EDGE” printed on the front of it. They were very fun, and it was just so much fun, and just all the friends in one place, and being able to just talk and express their joy of being straight edge and being in this community… It was a really good experience.

You’ve also been recording a demo. What is there to look forward to there?

Harper: It’s all recorded.

Maddie: It’s in the mixing process right now, so we’re getting it mixed and mastered, and then, probably, it’ll be out this December. We don’t have many songs written right now [because] we’re very busy with school, jobs, life. We plan on writing more after the demo comes out, but these songs we’ve had for about a year and a half now, and finally they’re recorded and [will be] on a streaming platform soon.

Haley: Yep, shout out Mad Dog.

Maddie: Yes, our friend Mad Dog recorded us; she’s amazing and lovely, and she’s mixing it for us.

Mariah: Yeah, it was very fun recording!