VRSTY

Formed in New York City during 2015 by Puerto Rican frontman Joey Varela, VRSTY—pronounced “varsity”—fuses hard rock, R&B, emo, metal, pop, and hip-hop into its post-hardcore framework. Varela’s early listening habits centered on Spanish music, Usher, and Michael Jackson until a post-hardcore concert headlined by From First to Last redirected his musical path. Intent on uniting R&B’s sultry vocals with hardcore’s weighty riffs and breakdowns, Varela joined forces with bassist Javy Dorrejo, drummer Chris Cody, and guitarist Paul Gregory to issue two independent releases, Lights in 2015 and Blck Deluxe in 2019, both of which earned favorable notice. The group signed with Spinefarm the next year and delivered the well-regarded Cloud City EP. Refining that hybrid approach, the band issued its first full-length for the label, Welcome Home, in 2022. Co-produced by Varela and Justin Deblieck (Ice Nine Kills, Fit for a King), Levitate arrived in 2023 and presented a confident set propelled by chugging grooves, dynamic danceable beats, earworm melodies, and raw outsider conviction.