By: Mason Reid
Every band has a story. Some begin with a chance encounter, others with a shared dream, and a few with the realization that three very different people can create something extraordinary together. For Albany, New York alt-pop rock trio The Perfect Storm, the story is a little of all three. But beneath the chart success, growing recognition, and anticipation surrounding their upcoming sophomore album, Nature’s Fury, lies something far more compelling: three ordinary men attempting to accomplish something extraordinary without losing sight of who they are.
James Krakat, Matty Kirtoglou, and Ethan Lynch have already experienced the satisfaction of releasing their debut album, Maiden Voyage, and watching their single “We Fell in Love” climb to No. 1 on the National Radio Hits AC40 chart and reach the Mediabase Activator Top 50, while “A Song For My Friends” reached the Top 40 on the same Mediabase chart. Yet their journey hasn’t been defined by overnight success or an industry machine pulling the strings. It’s been built on friendship, sacrifice, determination, and countless hours of work that audiences rarely see.
In this revealing conversation, the three musicians discuss the moment they recognized their potential, the disagreements that inevitably arise when creative personalities collide, the personal pressures behind their music, and why Nature’s Fury represents much more than another album. Their answers reveal a band that understands success can be unpredictable, but loyalty, authenticity, and perseverance remain matters of choice.
The Interview
1. James, looking back at the formation of The Perfect Storm, was there one particular moment when you realized this band could become something much bigger than three friends making music? And what might have happened if you’d never taken that chance?
James: Matty and I had been in a band together for years before The Perfect Storm, and I had worked with Ethan on recording before the band formed. Because of the relationship with these guys, I realized very early that this could be something bigger. Immediately when we got together, it felt good to play as a unit.
We started by working on some covers, and after a few months of jamming, I presented “Magic Feeling” to them. When we played it together, I knew it was meant to be. We then decided to record an album.
Every step, something amazes me about this group. I know that if we can get more exposure, build our fan base, get onto bigger radio stations, and play larger stages, the music will become part of people’s lives.
As for not taking the chance, I think it was more a question of when I would. I have always wanted to do this. Anyone who has known me since I was a kid would know that I love music and have always dreamed of doing this professionally.
It is better to try and fail than to sit and wonder!
2. Matty, three musicians with three different perspectives can be a recipe for creative magic, but behind closed doors things aren’t always so simple. What’s been the biggest disagreement within the band, and did it ever threaten the future of The Perfect Storm?
Matty: We’ve never had knock-down, drag-out arguments, but definitely disagreements. It’s natural because in music, there is no blueprint or schematic for the process of writing and recording a hit song. The journey is different every time.
We try to be as open and democratic as we can be toward the process. Sometimes I might have to be the deciding vote for something only because I’m the only other person around.
3. Ethan, when “We Fell in Love” started climbing the charts and the band began receiving national recognition, did you feel the excitement everyone expected, or was there a quieter realization that the stakes had suddenly changed?
Ethan: There’s a realization that things are taking off, but it just feels like another day. I’m gonna keep writing music I think is good and keep pushing myself to outdo the last song I wrote.
4. James, your upcoming album, Nature’s Fury, features imagery of a devastating tornado and a desperate race against the elements. Sometimes the most dangerous storms are the ones we carry inside ourselves. What personal storms have you faced, and how have those experiences influenced the music you’re creating now?
James: Telling myself that I can do this and get Ethan, Matty, and me to the top. The music business is so huge, and at times you feel like things are not happening or ever going to happen.
The Perfect Storm is so important because not only do I love the band and music, but it gives me the opportunity to create a legacy and give my family a better life.
5. Matty, a catchy melody and a clever lyric can turn a painful experience into entertainment. When you wrote “My Woman Never Loved Me,” how much of the story was drawn from real life, and how much was the imagination of a songwriter having a little fun with revenge?
Matty: I pictured someone sitting at a bar next to me. A buddy, slightly inebriated, waxing poetic about their problems, like their job or whatever. After a few drinks, the discussion changes to relationship problems.
In the end, I won and got my revenge, and now her sister loves me! As to whether it is true or not, I am not one to kiss and tell. Or am I?
6. Ethan, every band has private fears, doubts, and sacrifices that audiences never see. What’s something about the journey of The Perfect Storm that fans would be surprised to learn? Was there ever a moment when you wondered whether the dream was worth the price?
Ethan: I think people would be surprised by just how much work goes on behind the scenes. When you see a band getting radio play, interviews, or recognition, it’s easy to assume there’s this big machine making everything happen. The reality is that we’re three regular guys with careers, families, and everyday responsibilities, trying to find the time to create something meaningful together.
For me personally, there’s a tremendous amount of time spent writing, recording, engineering, and obsessing over little details that most people will probably never notice. And sometimes those little details are what keep me up at night!
There are definitely moments when you wonder how you’re going to balance everything, especially as life gets busier. But I don’t think I’ve ever seriously questioned whether making music itself was worth it. Music has been such a huge part of my life that I honestly wouldn’t know what to do without it.
The challenge isn’t finding a reason to keep going. It’s finding enough hours in the day to do everything you want to accomplish.
7. James, Matty, and Ethan, Maiden Voyage is behind you, expectations are growing, and now Nature’s Fury is approaching. What happens when the pressure to succeed becomes greater than the joy of creating? Have any of you worried that success could change, or even damage, the friendship that holds this band together?
Matty: Win or lose, success or failure won’t change our friendship. In the end, my bandmates are good people, and I’m a firm believer that if you are a good person, success won’t make you a bad person.
There’s definitely pressure, as before; with the first album, there were no outside expectations other than the bar we set for ourselves. This time is different, no doubt. You also have to weigh what worked last time and what we should change. You don’t want to be stagnant. Pushing the envelope keeps the material fresh. It’s a fine line.
Ethan: I don’t let the pressure or expectations get to me. At the end of the day, we’re here to make good music that hopefully resonates with people. Success wouldn’t change our friendship, and I don’t see any reason why it should.
James: Life is full of pressure and expectations. Every day, we need to make choices while living up to some sort of standard and expectations. Whether it is family, friends, work, etc., there’s some kind of expectation. Ethan and Matty are great guys, and I am lucky to have them as bandmates.
8. James, Matty, and Ethan, someday someone may look back at The Perfect Storm and try to understand what really happened here. If that story were being told, what would be the one truth about the band that you’d want the world to understand? And is there a chapter that hasn’t been written yet, one that might surprise even the three of you?
Ethan: I’d want people to know that everything we’ve done comes from a genuine love of music. We’re three guys with different backgrounds and influences who found common ground in creating something we’re proud of. We’ve never followed a formula. We just make music we enjoy.
There’s also much more to being in a band than what people see onstage. It takes countless hours, sacrifices, and frustrations, but those experiences have helped shape us as musicians.
As for what’s next, I hope there are many more chapters. We’re still discovering what The Perfect Storm is capable of, and that’s the exciting thing about music. You never know where the next idea might lead.
James: I would want the world to know that we are three unique individuals who put aside differences and were able to work together and make great music and entertainment that matters in a positive way. I also want people to see that no matter how hard it may seem to accomplish something, don’t give up.
What’s next is Nature’s Fury. Beyond that, many more exciting adventures!
Matty: Music and life in general aren’t scripted. In a lot of ways, the three of us are different. But when we put pen to paper and pick up our instruments, all that goes away. I would like people to know that when they listen to our records, we took no shortcuts.
I also hope that they can relate to the music in a way that maybe gets them through the good and the bad. Doesn’t everyone just wanna be seen and understood?
The Next Chapter, Weathering Whatever Comes
Perhaps the most revealing thing about The Perfect Storm isn’t what the three musicians say about success. It’s what they say about each other. James sees an opportunity to build a legacy and provide a better life for his family. Matty believes that success means little if it compromises friendship or artistic integrity. Ethan approaches each new accomplishment with the quiet determination of someone who knows there’s always another song to write and another detail to perfect. Different personalities, different motivations, and different perspectives, all moving toward the same destination.
As Nature’s Fury approaches, the trio faces a challenge familiar to every artist who has experienced a breakthrough, which is how to build upon success without becoming trapped by it. Their answers suggest they’re more interested in making meaningful music than chasing expectations. They understand that charts fluctuate, trends disappear, and industry attention can be fleeting, but the relationships and songs they create have the potential to endure.
There’s an appropriate symbolism in the band’s name. Storms are unpredictable. They can change direction without warning, challenge everything in their path, and force people to discover strengths they never knew they possessed. For James, Matty, and Ethan, the journey has already brought its share of uncertainty, sacrifice, and unexpected rewards. Yet the most important part of their story may still lie ahead.
And if there’s one thing The Perfect Storm has made clear, it’s that whatever the future brings, they intend to face it together.
