By Staff | October 29, 2026
Esty Henao of the New Jersey groove metal band LOADED isn't particularly interested in doing things by the book. He taught himself guitar without learning much music theory, preferring to figure things out by ear rather than worry about what the chords are called. His band came together through a bizarre series of events involving a blocked message on BandMix, and things haven't gotten much more normal since.
Esty's got plenty of stories, a wacky sense of humor, and some serious ambitions for LOADED. We had a chance to sit down with him to discuss how it all started and how far he wants to take it.
Welcome! What was it like growing up in Paterson? Were there other kids into metal, or were you the odd one out
It’s so funny you say that, I wasn’t even IN to metal at the time. at the time I was heavily into rap like ski mask the slump god, xxxtentacion and juice world. that was my rotation at the time. it wasn’t till I was like 14 or something I started listening to metal and by then covid had hit. So all I had was the sweet embrace of the indoors and metal. it was pretty rad, not attending my online classes and just hanging out with my uncle most the time.
Your uncle introduced you to guitar when you were 15. What was he playing that made you want to pick one up yourself?
he was playing Stairway to Heaven, I remember it VERY clearly. he played it on a red strat that he actually gave to me. we were just hanging out one day, and I was watching tv, he pulls out his guitar and a mini boss katana amp and starts playing. I was like “holy shit, what is that melody?” at the time I thought it was the most majestic thing ever. and when he plays it, I still think it is.
Can you remember the first time you played something on guitar and thought, holy shit, I'm actually getting good at this?
i remember the first time I played and the time I thought “damn, I’m kinda good.” first time I played I was trying to learn a song called “tex’s theme” from a web series on YouTube called “red versus blue.” it wasn’t until recently when my own sister said she was proud of me when I performed at the William center. and she’s a VERY hard person to please, but that moment is when I thought. “hey man, I’m not too shabby.” but I’m plenty aware there’s probably somebody in the world who’s a million times better than me. but, I’m a pretty darn good player when I’m piss drunk too so there’s that.
Having never bothered learning music theory, have you ever run into something you couldn't figure out just by listening?
oh wow, yeah all the fucking time. it’s funny, I was practicing with this one ska punk band called “waste of space”, they’ve got a sublime sound going on and the guitarist Sean was trying to talk to me about chords and stuff. that’s when Eli, my drummer was like “yeah no bro, he doesn’t speak that language”. Eli saw me visibly tremble at the mention of “f chords” or “e chords” I don’t really know any of that, I mean I probably KNOW how to play them I just can’t distinguish the shape I make with actual notes. of course I’m JUST now learning my scales, properly at least. I’ve always known the shapes but never the proper name for them.
How did you end up playing with the guys in Loaded?
That story is kind of a strange one. I’m one of the founding members but there was this one guy who used to be part of the band. he messaged my drummer on BandMix and was like “yo, I’m trying to do this thing? are you in?” at this stage we were just 2 guys trying to form a band. from Eli’s re-telling of this story , he looked at that message, looked at the songs the guy had listed and blocked him haha. the reason WHY he got blocked was because he had enter sandman on his page. at the time Eli thought “man, too overplayed.” so he just blocked him. but, somehow someway Mr. Eli remembered us and unblocked us. at the time I didn’t have a car so he picks BOTH me and the guy. complete strangers by the way. but it worked out in the end you know. the bassist Chris, we went to middle school together so I pulled him in to it.
Who in the band is the biggest pain in the ass to deal with?
haha man I can’t say that, you’re trying to start trouble. But if I had a gun to my head and my arm was twisted and I was FORCED to answer. probably me, I feel like I’m too “hey guys, let’s do this! hey guys let’s do that!” I’m too in their face. which if they find annoying is totally fair, I know I can be very upfront about everything so I cant blame ‘em.
Ever had a show go so badly that you just wanted to get the hell offstage?
Wow, bringing up some awful memories huh? Yes actually… and till this day I still shiver, there was this one who in Nyack, a place called “Club Andromeda” at least that’s what they advertised themselves as. Eli was slamming on the drum kit, one of the symbols fall down off a mini ramp he was on. and it COMPLETELY slices through my fucking cable. it was like that fucking symbol was playing fruit ninja. not only did it slice my shit clean in half, it smacks my bassists shoulder and knocks his glasses off his face. god, that was horrible. I hated that show, and I genuinely never wanted to show my face there again. and till this day I don’t think I’ll ever wanna go back. it’s funny now looking back at it, they guy who records most our shows still kept the other half of the cable we call him Tio, he’s a cool dude.
How far are you willing to take Loaded? Would you drop everything tomorrow if somebody offered you a serious shot at making it?
To the moon and back? Are you kidding? It’s a dream of mine to conquer whatever I can with my music. I don’t wanna fall into delusion but I genuinely think we’ve got a shot. we’re pretty well received wherever we go, I mean yeah we play at pretty hardcore dominated areas in Jersey. but nothings gonna stop this groove metal from punching you in the face. I would literally drop everything, if I got a serious offer. no joke, it doesn’t matter what I’m doing. I will always have this band as my number one priority. I’m hungry for it man, and I know my guys are hungry for it too.
You've mentioned loving whiskey and gambling. Which one has gotten you into more trouble?
WELL, if you MUST know… drinking haha. nah I’m kidding, thankfully I haven’t gotten into any actual trouble. just me being a dumbass, although I turn into a huge nut case when I’m drunk. sometimes my friends enable me to do dumb shit and sometimes they stop me. There’s a whole bunch of dumb videos, in one of them my friend has a fly swatter, so I show my stomach. I tell ‘em “hey man there’s a bug on me” because I’ve got a scorpion tattoo on my stomach. He hits me with the fly swatter - it hurt BAD, I had a mark for days.
band Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loaded.band
personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medalo._esty