Today we’d like to introduce you to Gifts Ungiven.
Hi Gifts Ungiven, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
We are a post-hard core band based in the DMV area. We have five members: Evan Capella (drums), Eric Foreman (bass), Steph Kallay (vocals), John Karavatas (guitar), and Joseph Quinn (guitar). The band started in early 2025 after Evan, John, and Steph connected through craigslist and started writing music together. Joseph and Eric joined the band soon after and the lineup was completed.
Our first live show was in Falls Church, VA with DSI Records on September 2025. We have been writing and playing live ever since! Some of our highlights including playing Battle of the Bands at the Garage in Maryland, Deathpunch Bar in DC, and with WV Student Radio at American University.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a very smooth road so far. Our writing process is very collaborative with each member of the band working together to produce something we can all be proud of.
Perhaps our biggest undertaking so far has been writing, recording, and releasing our first EP titled: When I Die, Will I Sing again? (available on all steaming platforms!). We recorded the guitars and bass in our home studios and the drums and vocals with @pabloforhire at his studio in Virginia. For most of us, it was the first time recording music so learning how to do this as we went was a learning experience.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As mentioned, we are a post-hardcore band, this genre blends the raw aggression of hardcore music with intricate melody writing and elements reminiscent of other genres. The vocals are a mix of harsh (some would call screaming) and clean which underlines the variety of music we produce. The guitars and bass are many times heavy but also can be relaxing, something you can experience by coming to see us live!
Each of our band members brings something unique to the table that guides the music writing process and in the end resuts in a unique blend of styles and composition that sets us apart from others.
Evan has a wide background and interest in multiple genres of music. He is very active in the local music scene and also plays drums in “Rust Lords” (check them out!).
Steph has been performing live for many years and is able to play many instruments. Steph’s mastery of music composition drives us forward and ties together our ideas for riffs and sections into a cohesive song.
Eric has been part of touring bands in the past and has performed live countless times. Eric also volunteers his time on the music side of Comet Ping Pong, catch him there!
John comes from a pop punk background with bands such as Paramore and Fallout Boy which he combines with influences from other genres such as Parkway Drive.
Joseph brings a background that blends virtuoso/prog guitar (Joe Satriani, Plini, Jake Howsam Lowe, Intervals) with heavy groove and djent metal rhythm parts (Lamb of God, Tesseract, Monuments). Gifts Ungiven is the first time he has been in a band and really enjoys writing and performing music with the others.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck is part of any music career. Having the right person listen to a track at the exact right moment can really change an your trajectory.
So far, we have been incredibly fortunate. We’ve been invited to perform with many great local and touring bands, largely because promoters and fellow musicians have stumbled across our music on social media or at one of our shows. That kind of timing always feels like good luck, but it’s something we never take for granted. Every show, every shared bill, and every connection is a chance to put our songs in front of eyes/ears that haven’t experienced it yet, and we genuinely appreciate every single opportunity we get to spread our music further.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://giftsungiven.bandcamp.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giftsungivenmusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@giftsungivenband
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6gtoRIiW7aF6KjszO9nJZA?si=vjwgSQnVTb2-3MK5RnzRWw
