PRESS & REVIEWS

"2019’s Makin Waves song of the year-winners had an understandably quiet 2020. But that doesn’t mean that 2021 is going to be a repeat for Hana Denson & Co. Spending the bulk of the year expanding their repertoire and writing new material will surely help Honey Wild reclaim its spot as one of our most thrilling new bands."

-Brian Erickson for "You Don't Know Jersey"

“Don’t Call Me Baby,” the lead-off track to the eclectic rootsy, yet edgy five-piece’s three-song debut EP, is a Pat Benator-like Me-Too anthem... The expose of pig men who undress women with their eyes and cop cheap feels not only is the Makin Waves Song of the Week, it’s also the Makin Waves Song of the Year, topping my Top 10 albums list that will be posted here later this month."

-Bob Makin for "New Jersey Stage"

"I saw your band over at Tallie Fest at the Asbury Park Yatch Club and you guys totally killed it that night."

- Tom Hanley for Jersey Rock 95.9 The Rat Weekly Podcast

ABOUT

New Jersey-based, female-fronted, groove-rock.

The sounds of Honey Wild are just as its name would suggest: smooth and sweet, yet unrestrained. Pairing honest lyrics with jazzy chords and thunderous beats, Honey Wild is bluesy, high-energy rock and roll.

The band was founded in 2018 by New Jersey singer-songwriter Hana Denson. Through the local DIY music scene, she connected with guitarist and songwriter Cristian Fernandez. The two have played over 50 shows together with a changing roster of band-mates, concluding with present members: Steve Bare (bass, vocals), Christian Lopez (drums, vocals), and Nick Marzullo (bass, vaocals).

HONEY WILD LIVE

HANA DENSON

Vocals / Keyboard

Hana Denson was a musical theater kid in elementary and high school. A trained vocalist at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division, NYU's CAP21, and during a brief stint at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT, her musical history includes opera, choir, acapella, hard rock, jazz, blues, and cover-band pop. As the band's main songwriter, she relies on knowledge gained from equal parts classical training and experimentation to create songs that cross genres and dodge predictability.

CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ

Vocals/ Guitar

Cristian Fernandez is a veteran of the NJ music scene, having played in several local and touring acts at festivals such as Bamboozle and Warped Tour as well as venues such as The Stone Pony and Starland Ballroom. Over a decade of live experience crossing several genres informs both his songwriting and the effect-laden soundscapes created with his guitar playing.

STEVE BARE

Guitar / Vocals

Steve Bare grew up as a band nerd, playing low brass in everything from jazz ensemble to marching band before picking up guitar and bass. In college, he helped transcribe music for talented-but-untrained songwriters while also playing at every opportunity, whether as lead guitarist, rhythm guitarist, bassist, or solo acoustic act. To this day, Bare remains passionate about bringing novel ideas into collaborations with other artists.

CHRISTIAN LOPEZ

Drums

Christian Lopez is an active music director, educator, and performer throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He currently serves as the Director of Music at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, New Jersey. A graduate of Penn State University, he holds a degree in Music Education with a Performer’s Recognition Certificate in Percussion Performance. He regularly gigs as a percussionist and pianist in a variety of settings including theater, rock, jazz, and funk groups throughout the state.

NICK MARZULLO

Bass Guitar

A multi-instrumental who was born into rock and raised on funk, Nick Marzullo now takes up musical residence somewhere between modern prog, jazz and soul. A regular session player and producer in the tri-state area, he can often be found gigging in theater pits and well-known indie venues such as The Bowery Electric and Rockwood Music Hall. Marzullo’s love of harmony and exploration of sonic textures lends itself well to the unconforming style of Honey Wild.