Alternative elemental nu-gaze rockers HAZARDOUS YOUTH have released a few EPs, singles, and videos, with plans set to release newer music, playing shows for the rest of this year, with much more shows and other plans set for the next year! The band talks with us about all of this below!
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Hazardous Youth was founded in 2025 in Houston by James Lopez as an electronic rock project. Inspired by artists like Twenty-One Pilots, Gorillaz, and Oliver Tree, the early sound focused on production-heavy beats and rap-driven hooks. That period produced our debut album Woke World, available now on all platforms.
As the project evolved, James connected with Arnold, aka Drip, on vocals, pushing the sound into heavier territory. Our second release, the EP This Was Meant to Hurt You, introduced a more aggressive, hip-hop influenced energy.
In 2026 we made the full transition to a live rock format with our third release, Be Yourself. This 5-track EP trades programming for guitars and drums, establishing us as a six-piece alternative metal/shoegaze band.
Following James Mulroy’s departure to pursue Buddhist practice, Nicholas Baldwin joined on guitars, completing our current lineup:
James Lopez — Lead Vocals / Bass
Arnold / Drip — Vocals
Nicholas Baldwin — Guitars
Adrian — Guitars / Vocals
Peter — Drums
Andrew — Keyboards
Be Yourself was recorded at Southwing Audio and engineered, mixed, and mastered by Jimmy Neito. Released July 3, 2026, it captures the band’s evolution from studio project to a full live unit. The focus remains the same: strong songwriting and memorable hooks — now at higher volume.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
The name Hazardous Youth comes from an Eminem lyric that resonated with James Lopez during the band’s formation. It immediately fit our story and trajectory.
Every phase of the band has carried an element of risk — launching an electronic project in a guitar city, shifting from rap hooks to heavy vocals, rebuilding the lineup, and ultimately moving into alternative metal. The name reflects that willingness to evolve without compromising the songwriting. It’s a reminder that growth requires a level of danger, and we’ve embraced that from day one.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
We’re based in Houston, Texas. Houston’s music scene is defined by its diversity and crossover. Hip-hop, metal, indie, and electronic acts often share bills, and venues like White Swan and Axelrad actively program mixed-genre events. There’s also renewed support for local rock at the Live Nation level, with rooms like Foundation Room booking Houston-based headliners.
It’s a competitive market, but one that rewards authenticity and work ethic. The city shows up for bands that deliver live. Artists we recommend checking out from Houston: Rowdy, Nothing Who Cares, and Space Rhyno. You can catch a strong cross-section of the current heavy scene at RADFEST, Nov 20-22 at Axelrad. We’re also on the Loko Wrestling bill at White Swan on Sept 18 — they consistently curate high-energy, creative lineups.
4. How would you describe your style?
We describe our sound as alternative metal and shoegaze, with elements of nu-gaze.
Be Yourself blends the rhythmic weight of nu-metal with the atmospheric layers of shoegaze. Key reference points are Deftones, Loathe, Slowdive, and Turnstile, mixed with all the heavy metal we jammed as young men.
Our background in electronic and hip-hop production still informs the songwriting. We prioritize structure and choruses, but execute them with three guitars, keyboards, and dual vocals. The result is a six-piece wall of sound designed for live performance — heavy, melodic, and built on the energy of Turnstile-style hardcore meeting metal atmosphere.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
Releases to date:
Woke World — Debut LP | Electronic rock | Recorded DIY and produced by James Lopez at Demon House Studio | Available everywhere
This Was Meant to Hurt You — EP | Hip-hop / aggressive vocal focus | Recorded DIY and produced by James Lopez at Demon House Studio
Be Yourself — 5-track EP | Alternative metal/shoegaze | Released July 3, 2026 | Recorded at Southwing Audio, engineered/mixed/mastered by Jimmy Neito
Key singles from Be Yourself:
— First single + official video directed by Danny Staley, lighting by Void Light Design, BTS photography by Alice. Filmed at Peters Warehouse and Downtown Houston.
— YouTube video premiered July 3rd
What to expect: A clear progression with each release. The first two records were fully DIY — written, recorded, and produced by James Lopez at Demon House Studio — showing our self-sufficient roots. Be Yourself represents our move into a professional studio environment with Jimmy Neito, but the songwriting approach is the same: live tracking first, dynamics second, zero filler.
If you’re finding us now, start with Be Yourself — it’s the most accurate representation of who we are today: a live band with studio discipline.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
Yes. We are definitely working on new music that’s pushing Hazardous Youth to evolve further.
The writing process is active and we’re exploring new sonic territory beyond Be Yourself. That said, the next song you will hear from us is EGO DEATH single and video dropping early October 2026.
EGO DEATH is the heaviest song on Be Yourself and represents the current ceiling of our sound. The video will be shot by Danny Staley.
While we focus on promoting Be Yourself through Fall/Winter 2026, the new material in development will define our next chapter. We’ll begin previewing that direction after RADFEST in November.
7. As far as shows and touring, what is on the agenda?
Fall 2026 Texas Dates:
Thu Sept 18: Loko Wrestling @ White Swan — Houston, TX
Fri Sept 26: Rob Metal Works — San Antonio, TX | San Antonio debut
Wed Oct 15: An Evening With Hazardous Youth — Foundation Room, Houston, TX | Live Nation headline
Thu Nov 20 - Sat Nov 22: RADFEST @ Axelrad — Houston, TX
We are actively booking across Texas and surrounding states through the remainder of 2026. Our October 15 headline at Foundation Room is a milestone show for the Be Yourself cycle and a priority for the band this year.
8. What else do you have planned for the rest of this year?
September: Promotion for the video. Content rollout from White Swan and San Antonio shows for socials.
October: single and video release. Headline performance at Foundation Room on 10.15.26. Continued promotion of Be Yourself.
November: RADFEST performance 11/20-22. Professional multi-cam live recording, industry networking, and year-end recap content.
Our objective for Q4 2026 is to support Be Yourself with strong visuals, strategic live shows, and measurable growth in Texas before expanding our touring radius in 2027.
9. Where can we find you online, listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Streaming: Spotify, Apple Music — Woke World, This Was Meant to Hurt You, Be Yourself EP
Video: YouTube — Search “Hazardous Youth” for, and behind-the-scenes content
Social: Instagram + TikTok @hazardousyouth
Live: Tickets for Foundation Room, Oct 15, 2026 — link in bio on all platforms
Contact/Booking: hazardousyouthtxds@gmail.com | 346-263-4146
Merchandise: New designs launching alongside the release in October. Updates on Instagram.
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
We want listeners to remember how catchy the music is, and how it connects to core memories — music that makes you think about yourself.
There’s a specific feeling you get from songs that defined your youth. That nostalgia magic. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to. We didn’t start as a metal band — we evolved into one — but the commitment to strong hooks and emotional resonance has been constant since 2025.
Be Yourself is written to be both heavy and memorable. If a chorus sticks with you, if a riff brings back a moment you’d forgotten, then we’ve done our job. We want the songs to hit you the way music hit us when we were kids: honestly, loudly, and permanently.
The takeaway is in the title: Be Yourself. Even if it’s hazardous.