Biography
Justin Mauriello first gained notice in the pop-punk scene during the mid- and late 1990s, serving as lead vocalist and guitarist in the Orange County rap-punk outfit Zebrahead alongside co-frontman Ali Tabatabaee, whose rapping offset Mauriello’s melodic delivery. The energetic five-piece issued its third studio album, MFZB, in 2003, yet mounting creative tensions prompted Mauriello to begin composing material independently the following year. Those outside efforts quickly gained momentum, leading him to depart Zebrahead before 2004 concluded so he could form a fresh group and develop the new songs without compromise.
Operating from Huntington Beach, California, I Hate Kate coalesced around a shared passion for power pop and rock, taking its name from a friend’s girlfriend at the time—a person Mauriello openly disliked. Bassist Scott Hayden and guitarist Jeremy Berghorst completed the initial lineup, and the band launched its career with the album Act One. Because copies of that release later grew scarce, several of its tracks were rerecorded for the eventual full-length Embrace the Curse. The first version of Embrace the Curse was tracked in 2006 inside the producer’s home studio on a tight budget and appeared in Japan during April 2007. I Hate Kate’s sound—defined by irresistible pop-rock, expansive choruses, and instantly memorable melodies—soon drew the ear of the music director at Denver’s KTCL, where the single “It’s Always Better” received heavy rotation throughout early 2007 and climbed to the top of the station’s playlist thanks to listener response.
That summer the band performed a sold-out concert at Denver’s Bluebird Theater, where Glassnote Records founder Daniel Glass was present; impressed by the show, he offered the group a deal. Before the year closed, I Hate Kate returned to the studio to cut one new track and rework several earlier songs alongside producer Mark Trombino (blink-182, Jimmy Eat World). Glassnote issued the freshly polished edition of Embrace the Curse in June 2008. By then the band had already shared stages across the United States, Canada, and Japan with Social Distortion, Hot Hot Heat, My Chemical Romance, and Unwritten Law.
Operating from Huntington Beach, California, I Hate Kate coalesced around a shared passion for power pop and rock, taking its name from a friend’s girlfriend at the time—a person Mauriello openly disliked. Bassist Scott Hayden and guitarist Jeremy Berghorst completed the initial lineup, and the band launched its career with the album Act One. Because copies of that release later grew scarce, several of its tracks were rerecorded for the eventual full-length Embrace the Curse. The first version of Embrace the Curse was tracked in 2006 inside the producer’s home studio on a tight budget and appeared in Japan during April 2007. I Hate Kate’s sound—defined by irresistible pop-rock, expansive choruses, and instantly memorable melodies—soon drew the ear of the music director at Denver’s KTCL, where the single “It’s Always Better” received heavy rotation throughout early 2007 and climbed to the top of the station’s playlist thanks to listener response.
That summer the band performed a sold-out concert at Denver’s Bluebird Theater, where Glassnote Records founder Daniel Glass was present; impressed by the show, he offered the group a deal. Before the year closed, I Hate Kate returned to the studio to cut one new track and rework several earlier songs alongside producer Mark Trombino (blink-182, Jimmy Eat World). Glassnote issued the freshly polished edition of Embrace the Curse in June 2008. By then the band had already shared stages across the United States, Canada, and Japan with Social Distortion, Hot Hot Heat, My Chemical Romance, and Unwritten Law.