The rock band ME. sat down and chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos at Amityville Music Hall on Long Island prior to their album release show.
ME. is made up of Eddie Reyes on leading guitar, Mark O’Connell on drums, Mike Jansen on guitar and lead vocals and Neal Amiruddin on the bass. Reyes and O’Connell were former band members of Taking Back Sunday.
The band opened up about this hometown show, new album, and finding success on their own terms.
How does it feel to kick things off at Amityville Music Hall on Long Island?
It’s amazing. For me, it’s a hometown show, so there’s definitely some extra emotion behind it. When I found out this was going to be our first show, I was really excited because it feels like everything has come full circle.
I grew up here. I used to sit in the basement next door watching bands like Suffocation rehearse when I was a teenager. Now I’m playing here myself. It’s nerve-wracking, but they’re good nerves.
Eddie and I had a similar experience growing up in Baltimore. We used to watch local bands like Visual Disorder and The Movielife, so it brings back a lot of memories.
Is this everyone’s first time playing Amityville Music Hall?
For some of us, yes. I’ve actually never been to Amityville before—I drove straight here. Maybe I’ll check out the famous horror house while I’m here, but right now it’s all about the show.
It’s great to play one of the few remaining venues on Long Island. So many legendary places are gone now—The Revolution, Crazy Donkey, Dakota Rose, Deja One. Those venues meant a lot to the local music scene.
How did the band come up with the name ME?
It actually came from a pin I carried around for years. It simply said “ME” with a thumbs-up icon and the word “confidence.” I’d always kept it with me, so when we were brainstorming names, it just made sense. It felt right.
What’s it like being a band in today’s digital age, with streaming and social media playing such a huge role?
It’s completely different than when we started. The biggest advantage now is that you actually know where people are listening to your music.
For example, Spotify recently showed that our biggest city over the past month was in Germany. Apple Music showed Cologne as our top city—even ahead of New York City. Years ago, we’d never have known something like that.
At the same time, I try not to obsess over numbers. I purposely avoid watching every statistic because I don’t want that pressure. My goal was to make a great record with these guys and play shows.
When you hear people are connecting with the music around the world, that’s exciting—but it can’t be the reason you’re making music.
Physical music formats (vinyl, CDs, and cassettes_ seem to be making a comeback. What do you think about that?
We love it. We’re releasing the record on vinyl, CD, and cassette. There’s something special about owning music physically—reading the liner notes, seeing the artwork, finding out who wrote the songs. Streaming is convenient, but you lose that experience.
It’s exciting to see younger generations embracing physical media again. Vinyl has made a huge comeback, and now CDs are starting to feel special again too.
It’s also great seeing Gen Z rediscover hardcore and post-hardcore culture. They’re bringing back the music, the style, and the energy. Watching my son throwing down at hardcore shows makes me feel like I did something right.
Did your history with Taking Back Sunday influence the sound of ME?
Not really. We didn’t sit down and say, “Let’s make this sound like anything.” Eddie and I spent two days in the studio without overthinking it. Whatever riff felt right stayed. Whatever beat worked stayed.
We wanted to avoid micromanaging every idea. We’ve both done enough of that over the years. This project was about trusting our instincts.
I’ve already climbed that ladder with Taking Back Sunday. I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished, but this is a new chapter.
I think this record stands on its own. The songwriting naturally carries some familiar DNA because of who these guys are, but I approached the vocals from a completely different place. I wanted this project to have its own identity rather than feeling like another version of an older band.
What does success mean to you now?
Success looks very different than it once did. We’ve experienced success before, and it changed the way we think about it. Now it’s much simpler: make the best music we can, enjoy doing it, support our families, keep a roof over our heads, and continue creating together.
It’s not about mansions or ferraris. Personally, I stepped away from all of this for a long time. I needed that distance. Coming back now feels emotional. I honestly think I’m going to spend a lot of time on tour hugging people because I’m just grateful they’re there.
That’s success to me—making music that matters and sharing it with people who genuinely connect with it.
What would you like to say to the people who support the band?
Thank you. I don’t really like calling people “fans.” It feels too one-sided. They’re part of this with us. They’re our friends and supporters, and without them none of this happens.
They’re every bit as much a part of the team as we are.
What do you hope listeners take away from the new album?
I hope people find their own meaning in these songs.
I intentionally write lyrics that leave room for interpretation. Sometimes the meaning someone finds is completely different from what I originally intended—and I love that.
Some of my favorite songs aren’t about what I thought they were about when I first heard them. Music becomes personal once listeners make it their own.
Even within our own band, we know exactly where some songs came from, but we still hear them through our own experiences. That’s what makes music special—it belongs to everyone once it’s released into the world.
They just released their new single “Sun Poison.”
The album “All Good Things” is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
To learn more about ME. follow them on Instagram.
