Functional Members Of Society: An Interview With NJ’s Loaded
By Staff | August 8, 2026
Photo credit: @jonni_shoots
Loaded almost played our July birthday bash, graciously offering to fill in for a last minute cancellation - unfortunately, not all the members were 21. Still, this is a testament to how tight these guys sound at such a relatively young age. Kind of thrash, kind of hardcore, their high-energy sets display both technical precision and unbridled aggression. We had an opportunity to catch up with Esty, Elias, Christopher and Frank to find out where they get their inspiration, their most surreal moment on stage, and why their goal is for the audience to have a good time as well as to punch each other.
Welcome! So what made you completely ditch the covers early in your career and start writing original music?
Esteban Henao, lead guitar/Elias Engle, drums: The covers were cool but the end goal was always having our own music and eventually one day play it in front of people. which so far is working out pretty great.
How does being from Jersey shape the groove and attitude in your music, if at all?
Christopher Fernandez, bass: New Jersey is the birthplace of a lot of famous musicians and artists we take inspiration from that’s from here, it really just came from a mix of all of our individual music tastes. it makes us love playing in NJ more though. and we also think it’s pretty badass and cool.
What's the biggest hurdle you've faced trying to get four guys with different schedules in the same room to write and rehearse?
Christopher: Our fuckass jobs man, we hate being functional members of society. we just wanna play shows and have a good time and watch people punch each other with our music.
What can people expect from your upcoming EP when it drops, and how do you hope the release goes over?
Elias: Groovy, heavy, something to feel excited for.
What was it like sharing the stage with the guy who actually played Jason Voorhees on film? Any cool stories?
Esty: It was SO FUCKING COOL we opened up for him. at the time we were called “atomicbon” so he probably doesn’t remember us LOL. HOWEVER. we remember him, because our guitarist just finished a speech and he walks up and joins in, grabs the mic and says. “this is it! this is what rock and roll’s all about!” and he got the crowd chanting our former name. it was a real awesome moment. and to be honest, none of us knew we were hopping on the bill with him until he popped up in one of our fyp’s on instagram. So we lucked out seeing as it was our VERY first Dingbatz show.
Photo credit: @jonni_shoots
If you could play a show anywhere in the world, where would the venue be and why?
Frank Ruiz, vocals: Not gonna lie I would love to go all around the world like just visit any country I can even if the venue is small or large I wanna explore many different places and perform at many different areas in front of as many ppl as I can performing is so fun and traveling while that is really fun too (editor’s note: that may be the longest single sentence we’ve ever printed).
If the band could have any superpower for one show, what would it be and why?
Frank: My top tier super power is, I would love having lightning in my fingers like in Star Wars I think that’s so cool and it’s the coolest. it can be used for anything - also shape shifting is cool and teleportation but I love lightning fingers
Esty: Spawning Infinite beer, because i love beer, or the king crimson stand from jojo.
Christopher: Heightened perception.
Elias: Gimme the gum gum fruit like luffy (editor’s note: that one we had to look up. It checks out).
Photo credit: @jonni_shoots
Anyone you'd like to thank for their support?
WE WOULD LOVE TO THANK THE LOADED FAMILY. we appreciate all the love and support that’s come our direction, the way you love us is the way we love you back.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loaded.band
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@loaded-official?si=_IL3L7LOLZNjcO1f
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@loaded_official?_r=1&_t=ZP-98Z1jUdlwsg