Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
NEW JERSEY - Since the age of eight, Michael Lanthier has found solace in playing his Fender Stratocaster. Thirty-plus years later, he sees music’s healing power again by playing that same Strat.
Growing up in an abusive family, Lanthier’s escape was music until he joined the U.S. Army. When Lanthier left the military, it did not leave him. Suffering from PTSD and multiple suicide attempts, Lanthier, a three-time combat veteran, turned to alcohol, but the demons never left. In November 2020, Lanthier landed in the hospital again after attempting suicide, but this time was different. He rediscovered his love of music. Since that day, he has remained sober and allows music to heal him - and released 27 singles.
Recently, Lanthier embarked on a larger project, a 10-track album entitled “01,” signifying his start or rebirth from the darkness of his life. The album is a compilation of genres ranging from hip hop to rock, as Lanthier integrates his guitar for various styles. “01” is an instrumental masterpiece that resembles music you may hear on movie soundtracks or in video games. Lanthier has found his niche, and each track demonstrates his progression as an artist.
“I’m very comfortable playing guitar, and I like to push myself into uncomfortable situations. A year ago, I would never have guessed that I would produce what is essentially a hip-hop beat. Instead of somebody rapping over it, a guitar imitates the rap,” he said. “I’m always pushing the limits, and I like the diversity in music.”
Working in his home studio, Lanthier turns to music after putting in a full day’s work at his 9-5 job. He calls himself a “one-man show,” writing, performing, mixing, and producing music, but listening to “01,” the quality and professionalism of a seasoned musician shine through each note.
“Pain in 99” is one of “01” singles that exemplifies Lanthier’s talent. The song got its origin when he was just 16 years old when he composed the main progression. Considered one of the heavier songs on the album, “Pain in 99” is a hard rock song. The track is chaotic and filled with melodic bits, crunchy riffs, and shredding guitar tones. Lanthier’s Fender echoes the anger of his youth and the indecisiveness of his future.
The single “Offering” is quite different from “Pain in 99.” “Offering” showcases Lanthier’s ability to change tempos with a bluesy feeling. Lanthier explains, “It’s a stripped-down song with a four-chord progression through the whole song and a real simple drum beat. It’s got a positive feeling to the melody and its progression. The guitar is not chaotic but very precise and technical.”
As more fans hear Lanthier’s musical genius, he hopes to give them a slice of what music gives him, “Music brings me peace. It’s beyond a passion. It’s the therapy that keeps me sane. It’s what keeps me happy.”
Make sure to stay connected to Michael Lanthier on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B093K2M52F/michael-lanthier
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/1564664854
Bandcamp: https://michaellanthier.bandcamp.com/
Blast: https://blastmusic247.com/artist-stage/144
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-534407239
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1RJJC5nAsYaYiRNbfolLvR
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/wolfsevenmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfsevenmusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wolfsevenmusic
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San Diego–based rock band The Reckless debuts new single “What Could I Give.” It’s the kind of track built for big moments—anthem rock with a sweeping chorus that begs to be sung back at full volume. Shimmering guitar tones drift in over a steady, heartbeat-like rhythm section, giving the song a sense of urgency, while the spacious production sets a cinematic atmosphere and mood. The mix balances grit and clarity—layered guitars push the rock edge forward, while airy reverb and dynamic swells create an expansive soundscape.
“Our genre of music is all about rock. We have ballads, aggressive metal, punk songs - you name it. We have an alternative Red Hot Chili Peppers-style song and even have one reminiscent of The Strokes or what you might hear on college radio. ‘What Could I Give’ is more of a pop punk rock song, but again, if you like rock music of any sort, I’m sure there’s a song in our catalog for you,” shared Fritz Fayman, lead singer and guitarist.
Lyrically, “What Could I Give” taps into a raw sense of yearning and vulnerability. The words explore the tension between desire and limitation, painting a picture of someone striving to offer everything they can while grappling with feelings of inadequacy. There’s an intimate honesty in lines that oscillate between hope and doubt, giving the song a relatable, almost confessional quality. Coupled with the band’s soaring chorus and dynamic instrumentation, the lyrics don’t just tell a story—they make you feel it.
“I always encourage people to find their own meaning in it, but for us, we wrote the song from a place of grappling with the challenge of seeing other artists succeed while wrestling with our own progress,” continued Fayman. “Along with that frustration, there’s also this self-directed anger, as the thought pops up: shouldn’t we be genuinely happy for them? That tension comes through in one of the lines: ‘I wake up every day thinking I’m not all that close.’ It’s something we all struggle with, and everyone can relate. We all know how it feels to see the highlight reels on social media and start questioning yourself. That push and pull, the ups and downs of trying to make it in this business, is really what the song is about for us.”
As far as the business of making music, the band thrives on collaboration. A rough demo or skeleton of a song might start with one member, but it quickly becomes a full-band effort. In rehearsals and jam sessions, everyone contributes their parts, while ideas and feedback flow freely. There’s constant communication and a real sense of shared ownership—decisions are made democratically, even when opinions run strong, making every song a true group effort.
“We mostly record everything ourselves, especially since our drummer has a studio setup at home, but we also work with Cottee Embry a lot. He’s a great mixer and mastering engineer, and we’ve been working with him ever since I brought this group of guys together back in 2023,” said Fayman.
The band’s current lineup didn’t happen overnight. The story starts during COVID, when Fayman found himself with unexpected free time and a drive to make music. What began as a solo project quickly evolved as Fayman sought the energy of a full band. Over the next couple of years, he tried out a rotating cast of players, searching for the right chemistry. By the end of 2023, everything clicked: Fayman on lead vocals and guitar, John Kelly on lead guitar, Riku Myllykoski on drums, and Michael Kennedy on bass, with both Myllykoski and Kennedy also contributing backup vocals. With this lineup, the band finally hit its stride, blending individual voices into a cohesive, collaborative force ready to bring their music to life.
“The name ‘The Reckless’ actually started as a joke back in college,” Fayman explained. “Whenever one of us did something wild or silly, someone would say, ‘Oh, that’s so reckless.’ Over time, it stuck—and it became a way to capture both the fun, goofy side of what we do and the serious, energetic presence we want on stage. It just felt like the perfect name for the band.
While an official album isn’t on the immediate horizon, the band already has a full set of songs ready, with new music set to drop every month and a half to two months. They’re also hitting the road with a few live shows, including the annual Adams Avenue Street Fair in San Diego on Saturday, September 20, and a November 21 performance with Dirty Mondays at Harvard & Stone in Los Angeles.
The band has drawn fans to well-respected venues across San Diego County, as well as Los Angeles, Arizona, and the Bay Area, including SOMA, The Holding Company, The Viper Room, The Mint, and more. Their most recent project, the EP “Who Are You,” dropped in spring 2025 and racked up over 100,000 Spotify streams within its first few months. If you haven’t yet discovered The Reckless, check out their latest single, “What Could I Give,” on all major streaming platforms, and follow them on Instagram and TikTok for news and updates.
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