FiXT New Noise: ENMY – Music, Mayhem & Who Survives The Zombie Apocalypse & Who Gets Eaten First?

If you’ve ever wondered what it would sound like if emotional turbulence, hard-hitting riffs, and the occasional existential crisis formed a band, FiXT artist ENMY beat you to it. Hailing from the musical trenches where melody meets mayhem, ENMY isn’t here to just make noise; they’re here to start a conversation, blow your speakers, and possibly raid your snack drawer if you leave it unattended.

But behind the crunchy guitars, anthemic hooks, and blood-pumping beats lies a group of artists deeply tapped into the human experience. With lyrics that dig into mental health, personal growth, and resilience, ENMY isn’t just screaming into the void—they’re building bridges with fans who feel the same.

For our latest FiXT New Noise feature, we sat down with ENMY (lead singer Brady Reis, guitarist Michael Quinn, bassist Trevor Johnson, drummer David Nester) to talk about music, mayhem, and the moments that define who they are, and to once and for all determine: who in the band is most likely to survive a zombie apocalypse, and who’s getting eaten first.

Band Overview:

How did the four of you come together, and what solidified the lineup?

“We all knew each other from various projects in the Cincinnati/Dayton music scene and just kind of came together with a joint vision of what we wanted to accomplish.”

What does each member bring to the band, musically and personally?

“We are all very different, but still have similar thoughts on music and goals.

“Mike usually manages the band and does the majority of the writing/coordinating. He loves sending funny videos and memes as well, always keeping us laughing in our group chat.

“Trevor helps a ton with the writing musically and also with the lyrics/melodies. He is one of the funniest dudes out there and always brings positive energy to the group with his goofy antics.

“Brady helps with designs for merch/album artwork and writes the majority of the lyrics and vocal melodies for the songs. He also has a very positive and chill vibe that helps bring things down if it gets intense.

“Dave writes the drum parts to the riffs Mike/Trev bring to the table and also helps with the live playback sessions and coordinating the tracks/samples with Mike. Even though he seems mostly serious, he’s a chill dude and works hard when necessary.”

ENMY @ Brightside show

What’s the core philosophy or vision behind your music?

“We create the music that we like to listen to, so if people like our sound, then we already have one thing in common with them. Our vision behind our music is to give our fans a sense of community and to give them lyrics they can connect with and let them know they’re not alone.”

How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you before?

“When I think of our sound, I picture a cathedral turned into a resistance outpost. Cords and cables running everywhere, glowing screens and light coming through stained glass and steel plating. In that space, it wouldn’t be strange to hear a soaring choir, thunderous 808s, cinematic synths, or even a full orchestra, like divine chaos.”

What’s the story behind your band name?

“We’ve always felt like the outcasts of our music scene. I know they say music isn’t a competition, but it always felt like we were the underdogs. We liked the idea of being the ‘enemy’ but also spelling it and designing it in a way that made sense for the genre of music we were going to be releasing.”

Songwriting & Recording:

How do you typically approach songwriting as a four-piece — is it collaborative or role-specific?

“Mike and Trevor usually have riffs or song ideas they work on together, and then get Brady to come up with melodies and lyrics, then they send the ideas to Dave, and he puts his own spin on the drums.”

Do lyrics or instrumentation usually come first, and who tends to initiate ideas?

“Instrumentals usually come first, and then Brady and Trevor will come up with a melody that gets stuck in their head. The next part is the hardest part, which is writing a catchy, thoughtful message inside the syllables of the melody. Trevor, Mike, and Brady will usually send voice notes back and forth to one another, and Dave will input his ideas once we have a rough idea of structure and tempo.”

What challenges (or advantages) come from having four perspectives in the studio?

“Having four people in the studio is very helpful because we all bring our influences to the table. If we get stuck on a section, it’s usually followed up by someone saying, ‘Oh, what if we did a transition into the next part like this?’ Songs tend to write themselves pretty quickly when all four of us are working together, not to mention when we have our producer chiming in as well.”

What song or album best conveys your identity as a band right now — and why?

“The song I, Brady, personally identify with is ‘The Ledge’ because I feel like it perfectly encapsulates my experience dealing with ADHD and executive dysfunction. I think the theme song for the band would have to be ‘Clarity’ because the lyrics have to do with our pursuit as a band. It’s about not listening to the outside chatter and the negativity from others and following your heart, no matter how scary and uncertain that can be.”

How has your sound evolved since your earliest recordings?

“I think we have learned to communicate what we want a little bit better. We’re all still adding to our arsenal of what we bring to writing sessions, and it can only get better from here. We’re becoming more intentional and proficient with our writing process, so when it comes time to experiment with sounds or ideas outside of our wheelhouse, we can figure out how that interacts with the sound we have curated over the years.”

Tour Life:

Which band member is most likely to be left at a gas station?

“Trevor, looking for that last snack to complete his collection.”

Who takes the longest to get ready… and for what reason?

“Brady, looking for hot water for his tea and a clean mug.”

What’s the weirdest thing someone has brought on the tour bus?

“A three-foot screwdriver (for protection).”

How many socks are currently missing in action?

“Socks not claimed are shoved into one large sock and then sewn shut, and whoever performs the worst that night has to use it as their stuffed animal.”

What’s the most “creative” excuse someone gave for missing soundcheck?

“‘Sorry, dudes, I was getting pizza.’ (Trevor)”

On-Stage Antics:

Has anyone ever forgotten what city they were in… on stage?

“I still don’t know what city I’m in. I usually rely on Trevor to scream it a the beginning of the show (laughs).”

What’s the most unexpected item that’s ended up on stage mid-show?

“Ryan Schwab or Mike Bowling.”

If your band had a theme song entrance like a wrestler, what would it be?

“‘Regulate’ by Warren G.”

Who’s most likely to trip over a cable and pretend it was choreographed?

“Brady, hopefully my wireless mic will help with this now (laughs).”

What’s your go-to emergency filler when you break a string, drop a USB, or crash a pad?

“It’s happened before! It turned into Brady interviewing someone in the front row, and everyone singing Happy Birthday.”

ENMY in 2023, photo by Will Story

Band Dynamics:

Who’s the unofficial band therapist?

“Mikey Shredz.”

Who has the worst taste in music (and defends it passionately)?

“Mike says it’s Brady because of one Modest Mouse song. (‘Gravity Rides Everything’ slaps by the way. It was used in all of those minivan commercials for a reason).”

What’s the pettiest argument the band has ever had?

“‘Gravity Rides Everything’ is a vibe, can we drop it now? Two questions in a row about this?!”

Who snores like a human bass drop?

“Dave or Trevor. Brady wears earplugs because when they sync up, it sounds like someone revving a chainsaw.”

Which bandmate would survive a zombie apocalypse… and who would be eaten first?

“Mike would survive because of his expert fishing skills, and Brady would be eaten first because of his taunting the zombies.”

Fan Moments:

What’s the strangest thing a fan has ever said or given to the band?

“An old coworker handed me a Sharpie and told me to sign his chest.”

Has anyone ever been mistaken for someone else… in their own band?

“No, they usually tell me I look like Shalissa.”

What’s the most memorable fan tattoo you’ve seen of your band (or that could be made up)?

“Tattoos of our lyrics or the astronaut from our song ‘Lost.’”

If your fans formed a cult, what would their weird tradition be?

“Repeating ‘That’s a scrumptious muffin’ in their best British accent.”

Have you ever signed something completely bizarre (and PG enough to talk about)?

“I signed a Pokémon card in West Chicago, I wish I could remember which one it was.. (Definitely not one of the original 151).”