If you’re looking for a band with the heart of lifelong friendship and the fire of relentless creativity, Rocket takes the title. Composed of front-runner, Alithea Tuttle on bass and vocals, guitarists Desi Scaglione and Baron Rinzler, and the self-titled “Mista” Cooper Ladomade on drums, Rocket’s origin story is as authentic as their sound. This LA-based band, formed during the pandemic by a group of besties, marks the epitome of turning idle moments into something powerful.

Their story dates back to elementary school, where Alithea and Cooper first met, eventually crossing paths with Desi and Baron in later years. Growing up in LA, all members began playing music individually from an early start, with the exception of Alithea. Playing around town with other bands, from house shows to local venues, Desi, Cooper, and Baron were no strangers to the stage, with Alithea showing support from the sidelines, until quarantine came into full swing. Back in 2020, without having expressed any interest in playing music, Alithea, nervous yet brave, decided to pitch the idea of starting a band with her besties.

Looking up to her three other bandmates and their years’ worth of proven rhythm, Alithea felt the pressure to perform as her journey to the mic began. Having never sung or played any instrument before, the new territory proved to be intimidating. Alithea recounts, “I was very very scared – if I was bad, it would be so awkward,” describing her initial fears during Rocket’s inception. Thankfully, with the supportive backing of these lifelong friends, her fears of not being taken seriously were quickly dismantled. Though her plan to start a band came as a surprise, the hometown heroes showed nothing but full support. “It feels like she’s a natural,” Desi claims, feeling confident in their front runner and the band as a whole. With only a few months of practice, the group began recording their first tracks, creating a sound that’s raw yet refined. “Every show, we get tighter and learn more; we learn from the bands we play with and other certain things that come from life experiences,” he continues. 

From playing together in Cooper’s parents basement with masks on, to major arenas with their favorite bands across the country, such as Sunny Day Real Estate, Rocket redefines the meaning of a relentless pursuit of passion. Looking back to their early days, with lockdown in full swing, the band had nothing else to do but practice.

“We didn’t know what we wanted to be, but if we were gonna do anything, we wanted to make it good,” Baron recalls. “People with talent vs. hard work, and taking the time to truly work your ass off. That’s what separates us, being able to grind as hard as possible, and being lucky enough to do it with friends,” he states.

Luckily, as close friends with talented minds and similar interests, Rocket’s dynamic gives them the “ease of not overthinking things, and stuff blooms out for us.” – Desi. For the most part, the band puts down a track, records it and finalizes the feeling, except for the occasional last-minute inserts when it feels right. The first song ever recorded, “On Your Heels,” was sent out to a friend to master, but later added a guitar solo within a day, put it down, and never thought twice about it. “We really are all on the same page which I was always so worried about it being the opposite. It’s nice to not overcomplicate things, and just make our stuff for what it is and move on,” Alithea shares.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Thom Yorke, Harry Neilson and Julianna Hatfield, Rocket’s sound comes from pitching ideas to each other- practicing and playing around with the melodies to create a powerful flow of instrumentation, filled with major riffs found in between pockets of dreamy vocals. As the main lyricist, Alithea shares “I usually have something in my head when I hear what we put down, and I try not to overthink it and change it. Then I think, if I heard the song, what would the melodies be?”

Though the true songwriting process varies from song to song, the group usually starts out with the music, playing and feeling out the sound before adding in the lyrics. The song “Normal to Me,” written while they were recording, marked the last minute addition to the EP as a whole. It’s also one of Desi’s favorite songs, making playing it live to be so much fun.

Rocket’s authenticity translates through their songs onto the stage, as Rocket wants each audience to resonate with their songs, as they tailor the setlist to each show. When deciding their finalized set in lieu of hitting the stage, “Everyone’s pitching ideas, and we practice so much, but as of recent it’s been shows – one of us will have an idea, either one arc or an entire song, but it’s always subject to change,” Desi states. 

Their sound embodies their passion for music, and navigating each moment as it comes. They go through cycles of exceptionally high moments, met with the ebbs and flows of navigating life on tour, such as battling through a stolen catalytic converter replaced in Kansas City (special shoutout to C Berg Muffler). As a true testimony to their art and creativity, everything from the recording, mixing, and merch are all made by hand (and with love) by the group. Alithea even designed and hand crafted the collage art that made it’s way to the cover of their latest EP, Versions of You. 

As the band of besties continues their progression to stardom, the band has been having fun opening, and feeling really excited for what’s to come, hinting at a new record most likely next year! While they’re excited for their success thus far, the group continues to have “pinch me” moments, gaining more familiarity with larger audiences, and feeling comfortable at the larger, “less scary” venues. It doesn’t hurt that they gain new fans IRL, with people coming up to chat and buy merch. “People have been way too nice!” Alithea says. You can catch Rocket on their tour with bôa in October, and see them open up for RIDE in December.  

Words: Phia Valdez

Photography: Tanner Le Moine