From the Bedroom to the Stage

Written and Photographed By Rick Perez

Reckless Magazine founder Rick Perez sat down with Sweatcult, a four-piece indie band hailing from the Coachella Valley, for a chat ahead of their upcoming tour. The band opened up about the impact of collaboration, playing their first live show alongside Beach Bums, and the inspiration behind their latest singles, “Sunday” and “Spite.”

Los Angeles, USA

I parked my car in a random spot on the 5th floor of a near empty parking in Downtown Los Angeles. The engine was off but the stereo was still on; I wanted to finish listening to “Sunday” by Sweatcult while putting on my shoes.

Once the song was finished and my shoes were on, I turned off the stereo and checked the time on my phone; I was 15 minutes early so had some time to scout a few locations. I climbed up a few flights of stairs and noticed a beautiful view of the skyline. This was perfect.

Just then I get a text saying, “We’re here” so I hurried back down to the 5th floor. Turning the corner, I introduced myself Efrain Martinez-Aguilar, Dylan Guzman, Brandon Unger, and Jacob Perez, members of the indie band Sweatcult.

I led the band to the roof of the parking structure. They had driven all the way from the Coachella Valley, about 2-3 hours east of Los Angeles in the desert, so I figured that talking them against the backdrop of epic skyline views was the way to go.

Once on the rooftop, I began asking about the origins of Sweatcult, which began as Efrain’s solo project in high school under a different name. “I was kind of just out of things to do and had to make new friends,” he began. Spending a lot of time at home, he experimented with GarageBand, a program he’d dabbled in before moving to the Coachella Valley. He started producing music under “Robot Boyfriend”.

“Eventually, my sound evolved,” he added, explaining how he shed the old name and embraced a new identity during his freshman year of high school. It was the start of something raw and expressive, the seed of what would grow into Sweatcult.

A slight chill began to hit on the roof as I asked what Efrain had learned over years. “Since I’m growing in public,” Efrain said. “I’ve learned to be more selective about what I want to show.”

Starting early came with its challenges—releasing music that he later realized didn’t feel true to himself anymore. “It’s okay to outgrow things,” he shared. “Be more selective, and don’t be afraid to take stuff down if it no longer represents you.”

Now that the solo project has turned into a more collaborative venture, I wondered how Efrain taking working with 3 other people.

“It’s amazing,” Efrain said enthusiastically. “When I was doing everything myself, it took forever to finish songs. Now, we can work on six tracks at once.”

Brandon, who handles much of the mixing and production, chimed in: “It’s great being able to bounce ideas off everyone. Jacob might write a guitar riff, and I’ll take it to the studio to mix it. Everyone brings something unique.”

Dylan added, “We’ve all known each other for years, so it’s natural. We know what we like and don’t like.”

The band emphasized that while their sound remains rooted in the DIY ethos that defined their early days, it’s constantly evolving. “We’re adding more influences, but keeping the raw energy that Sweatcult is known for,” Brandon explained.

As the night drew on, I asked them about the music scene in the Coachella Valley. What was it like being a musician there?

“It’s tough,” Efrain admitted. “There aren’t many venues, and you really have to do it yourself.”

Despite being in close proximity to Coachella, the local scene doesn’t offer the same opportunities. “You have to prove yourself elsewhere first,” Brandon noted. Yet, the band is optimistic. “The younger generation is building something positive. Downtown Indio, for example, is becoming a hub for creativity.”

Just then, a security called flashed his light and called out for us to leave the roof and told us the roof closed at 7. He was cool, but it was a bummer because I wanted to take some band portraits up there. I regretted not shooting first, but we rolled with it.

Back on the 5th floor, we began discussing their new singles, “Sunday” and “Spite”. What did they represent? How did they show growth as a band?

“‘Sunday’ was the first song we all worked on together,” Efrain said. “It’s a self-betterment anthem, reflecting on getting out of a rut and spreading your wings.”

Brandon elaborated on the collaborative process: “It’s about creating peaks and valleys in the music to tell a story. Everyone contributed something, and we kept tweaking until it felt right.”

Efrain described “Spite” as a darker song, exploring themes of self-sabotage. “It’s about burning things down—figuratively—when you feel trapped. Sometimes you have to make drastic changes to move forward.”

Jacob’s fresh chord progression and Brandon’s meticulous production helped shape the track into something that reflects both the band’s roots and their future direction.

Sweatcult’s first live show was opening for Beach Bums at The Echo in Los Angeles. Being a music project for many years, I wondered why they waited until now to play live.

“It just felt like the right time,” Efrain said. Encouraged by the frontman of Beach Bums, he finally took the plunge. “We rehearsed like crazy, even though coordinating was tough with everyone living so far apart.”

When I asked how they felt being on stage, the band said, “Like we were meant to be there. All the anxiety melted away, and we just… clicked.”

Taking that first plunge has now lead them to their first ever tour with Beach Bums, hitting cities like San Diego, San Francisco, and Reno. They’re also working on new music and planning music videos.

“Visual representation is so important,” Brandon said. “We’re not just making music; we’re building an experience.”

As I drove away from the parking structure that night, I couldn’t help but reflect on what Sweatcult’s journey represented—not just for them, but for all of us navigating creative paths. Their story is a reminder of how important it is to stay ready for opportunities, even if they don’t come right away. This evolution from a solo project in a high school to a collaborative band on tour speaks to the value of persistence and the courage to grow. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is show up, trust our vision, and let the rest fall into place.