Fresh New Music: Bayview Lane

There is something so special about catching a band right at the beginning, when everything still feels completely purposeful (maybe a little uncertain) but absolutely full of drive. Bayview Lane are stepping into that moment right now and it feels like the start of something that is going to stick.

Coming out of Milwaukee, the duo made up of Tanner Larkins and Bryce Evenson just released their debut single “Hand Me Down” on February 6, and it already holds a gentle emotional pull that bands usually take time to grow into, while still carrying that super new; first chapter feeling of something that’s only just beginning to unfold.

When asked how they would describe their sound for someone hearing them for the first time, they kept it real and open ended, which honestly makes sense once you listen to their new tracks.

“Our sound is rooted in alternative and pop punk but also brings many other genres to the table. We have influences across the board in pop punk, rock, metalcore, hardcore, country, and pop, so we like to create songs that we would listen to and vibe with and we love to create whatever comes naturally to us.”

You can feel that lack of restriction immediately. It feels open and unforced, like a band still learning who they are and letting that process happen naturally.

Their story didn’t start in a studio or with some big plan either, it started in a way that feels almost too fitting for a band like this. When asked how everything came together, it turns out it all goes back to a random night out.

They met in early 2024 at a bar in Milwaukee where Bryce was working, and, like all tasteful people, Tanner just happened to be wearing an A Day to Remember shirt. That alone sparked the very first conversation, but what had actually built the band was everything that came after.

“The band was formed very naturally and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We met back in early 2024 out at a bar in Milwaukee where Bryce was working. I (Tanner) was wearing an A Day to Remember shirt, so we started chatting about music and quickly realized we had similar tastes and were like minded in a lot of ways. Important to note, we became good friends really quickly before our own music started becoming a real part of our conversations.”

That part totally matters. A real partnership in a band is something you can hear, and when it’s backed by genuine friendship, it finds its way into the music organically.. Before anything serious, they spent over a year just hanging out, jamming, and sometimes getting completely sidetracked playing blink-182 covers instead of their own songs.

It never felt pushed, it just grew into something they couldn’t ignore.

Getting into “Hand Me Down”, we wanted to know what they were really trying to say with it, because the title alone hints at something that may suggest something a bit deeper. The meaning hits harder than you might expect from a debut.

“‘Hand Me Down’ is about generational trauma and families experiencing the same cyclical issues that people choose not to deal with or don’t know how to deal with. When that happens, past traumas get projected onto your own kids and then they’re unfortunately likely to pass them on as well.”

But what stood out even more was the intention behind it.

“While the song is from mine and my sibling’s point of view, the real, hopeful message is that if you are planning to start a family of your own, there are ways to heal from that trauma to break the cycle and give your next generation a fresh start.”

It is a heavy topic but is translated not in a way that leaves you feeling stuck there. There’s a reflective honesty to it paired with a sense of hope that feels easy to relate to.

The duo was also asked about their songwriting process, because songs like this do not just come from nowhere, right? It starts with a simple voice memo recording! (So real). Then, from there, it can go in any direction. It can come from something as small as a late night melody or a phrase that won’t let go, sometimes even just from saying a feeling out loud.

“Songs begin all kinds of ways – sometimes I’ll have a random melody pop into my head in the middle of the night, and I’ll have to hum it into my phone so I don’t forget it the next day. Sometimes I’ll hear or say a phrase that I think would sound like a good tagline in a song and then build an idea off that. Sometimes something will happen to me and I’ll just talk into my phone about how it made me feel and then base an idea off that too.”

Not every idea makes it, and I kind of love how honest they were about that.

“But often, I’ll end up with just the chorus. Then, usually I’ll wait a day or two and if the chorus doesn’t get stuck in my head at some point during that time, I’ll toss the idea aside and move onto the next thing.”

It keeps everything intentional. Nothing feels like filler and nothing is there just to be there.

Once something does stick, it’s pitched into a full collaboration. Bryce handles a huge part of the engineering side, building everything out from their home studios before sending it off to Signaturetone Recording in Minneapolis for final mixing and mastering. It seems to be a true team effort all the way through.

When the questions shifted into what music actually means to them, it got more personal, and this is where everything kinda started to connect.

“Writing music is an extremely personal thing for both of us. I’ve never been the best at verbally sharing my feelings, so writing songs has always been a way for me to capture how I’m feeling and is a truly cathartic experience.”

“If there is ever anything to be gained from songwriting other than our own catharsis, it’s hoping that the songs will connect with at least one person and help them through a difficult time or have something to relate to.”

And that intention can totally be carried through it all, even the way they think about listeners hearing them for the first time.

“We would hope that our music feels like a place someone can escape something they might be going through or a place where they can be seen or heard.”

Right now, Bayview Lane have not played their first show together yet, which makes this moment even more a part of a growing start. Everything is still building within the early stages, and everything is still ahead of them.

But when asked what people can expect once they do hit the stage, they already have that vision locked in.

“Since ‘Hand Me Down’ is our debut release and we’re a brand-new band, we haven’t played any shows together… Yet! However, when that time comes, people can definitely expect a lively, upbeat, and high standard performance brought to any stage we are lucky enough to get the chance to play.”

Even without shows yet, they already have stories that feel like the beginning of a classic musician origin story. They shared a moment from a trip up to Minneapolis to record drums.

What should have been a smooth drive turned into a near breakdown, (literally).

“We road tripped our way up there and my car’s radiator cracked and the engine was quickly overheating about 90% of our way there. After some vigorous YouTube watching at various rest stops realizing it was something we couldn’t fix ourselves, we slow crawled at 40MPH in the far-right lane of the highway for miles to the nearest AutoZone to at least fill up my bone-dry coolant tank to get us through the rest of the weekend.”

And somehow, they still made it work.

“While stressful (and eventually expensive), it felt like a rite of passage for us as a new band to immediately deal with car troubles on our first musical road trip together!”

I love that. It’s so funny how that actually makes so much sense!

When talked about influences, it all started to make even more sense. Tanner is drawn to huge, anthemic sounds, pulling from bands like Neck Deep, blink-182, and Jimmy Eat World, while Bryce brings in elements from Midwest emo, hardcore, and 2000s rock, shaping their overall sound in a way that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

As their first release, the song represents a really strong introduction.

“‘Hand Me Down’ represents our starting point with a fast-paced, energetic, and raw entrance that we hope connects with people that may need a pick-me-up or can relate to the subject matter of the song.”

Looking ahead, their goals are simple, but are completely driven with intention!

“Our number one goal is always to create something special that connects with people. Music is definitely a form of therapy for us and the hope always is that we can give somebody something to relate to, to make them feel heard, or give them a place to escape even for just three minutes at a time.”

Before wrapping, they left it open, not trying to control how anyone experiences the song or high expectation, just asking for something small if it does connect.

“We certainly don’t want to dictate the listener’s experience in any way, so all we would ask is if you like it, save it, add it to a playlist, and share it with a friend!”

Thanks guys, and reader; make sure to give a listen to Bayview Lane as they start on their epic way!