Indiana band No Means formed in August 2023 with a straightforward but deeply personal mission. “We formed in August of ’23 with the simple goal of expressing our lives and the lives of our loved ones through our sound,” says guitarist Joseph Cunningham, adding that the band also just loves “to have a good time and bring a party to the table.” What started as a chance Facebook connection between Joseph and drummer Joe quickly turned into regular writing sessions at a now-defunct Indianapolis practice space called Soundspace, where the foundation of No Means’ early material took shape.
Vocalist Aiden Hutton joined not long after, and the chemistry was immediate. After bombing an audition for another band, Aiden was recommended to No Means and found the right fit almost instantly. “I went to my first practice with them, listened to what they had, and practically wrote the lyrics for five songs in about a week,” Aiden recalls. “What made it work so well is that we were all inspired by each other… not thinking too hard, just going off how it feels.” Before long, the band had become close friends, driven by what Aiden describes as “a raw and neglected urge to create & express which became so uncomfortable to ignore that we couldn’t do it anymore.”
Sonically, No Means aim to trust instinct over imitation. “We really try to come up with our own sound and what No Means sounds like to us,” Joseph explains. Aiden frames it more concretely: “I’d describe our sound as a mix between Knocked Loose and Slipknot with a lot of DIY grit.” As a first band for both Aiden and Joseph, simplicity became key. “Joe and our bassist at the time really encouraged us to just keep it simple and play from our gut,” Aiden says, noting that frenetic vocalists like Bryan Garris (Knocked Loose), Jamie Hails (Polaris), and Jason Aalon Butler (Fever 333, Letlive) heavily influenced the vocal approach.
That DIY ethos carried straight into the band’s self-titled EP, released last September. “It was almost entirely self-produced—mixed and recorded by me, and mastered by a friend in the UK named Jack Byrne,” Aiden says. Coming from an IT background, Aiden took on the challenge out of necessity. “Hiring someone to produce for us required money we didn’t really have, so I thought it’d be cool to take a crack at it myself.” While modern tools made some aspects easier, the process still came with hurdles. “Learning to record to a click, waiting on stems, and member changes definitely threw a wrench in things,” Aiden admits. Lyrically, the EP pulls from deeply personal places, including “my childhood trauma, my identity as an autistic trans person, a seething hatred for the rich & powerful, and my personal struggles with perfectionism.”
At home, No Means are thriving within a strong Indianapolis scene. Bassist Austin points to the sense of community: “We see a wide variety of ages at our shows and see a caring community of supportive individuals who all love hardcore music… and shout-out to Butchered.” Aiden agrees, highlighting everything from packed DIY venues to bands finding success at every level. “Indianapolis has a huge hardcore/metalcore scene right now,” they say, shouting out acts like Gooseflesh, 4 Degrees, Fat Top, and Tatakae as just a few worth paying attention to.
Ultimately, No Means are about creating space as much as sound. “There’s enough hate in this world for everyone else,” Joseph says. “What we really try to do is bring a good time to people and give a space for people to be themselves while ripping fat snare bombs and big chugs.” Aiden puts it more bluntly: “Be gay, do crimes. Embrace uncertainty… Don’t do it for the money or some vague notion of making it big. That’s how you burn out. You just gotta find people on the same level as you, take risks, and fall in love with the process.”
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