The members of ExposE, a local band from Bakersfield, come from different styles and perspectives, but they combine to form something they see as different.

Chuk Thomasy, the lead singer and guitarist of ExposE, calls himself, “a child of the ‘90s.” He thinks that the grunge sound is “embedded in his DNA.”

“It’s just how I know how to express [myself]. It’s just what I grew up in,” said Thomasy.

Dustin Cruz, the bassist, considers his taste in music to be a bit heavier. He said, “I just like it [rock music] harder and heavier. I don’t know why.”

While Sam Coronado, the group’s drummer is mainly a fan of hip-hop saying, “the type of music I listen to, the majority is hip-hop. It’s always been my favorite type of music.”

Thomasy and Cruz played together with their previous drummer for about seven months. When he left, Coronado answered an advertisement that Thomasy had placed. It would be the first band Coronado had joined, however, he was not new to music.

He had been playing drums for 15 years as a marching-band style drummer, even teaching percussion at Centennial and South High School for a few years.

“It was a little nerve-wracking at first,” Coronado said. “I hadn’t played a drum set too much, so I explained to Chuk that I am more of a marching drummer, but I had abilities. I was fortunate enough to get involved with a band that had a fan base and a start.”

Thomasy said of Coronado joining the band, “Him coming into the band completely new was making it new to us too. It was a regrouping, a rebuilding. It brought a new shade of color to it. His drumming is not a standard rock drumming. It definitely puts us musically in a new direction.”

Thomasy believes that each member of the group’s unique take on music helps the band’s sound. “It leaves us open and versatile to do so much, with all three of us being very influential and outspoken with what we want to do. It really makes for a finer product,” said Thomasy.

Coronado said, “It can sometimes get argumentative because everyone has their own preference and style. I think it makes it great. I think all our different likes and styles come together when we start jamming and making our own music. We all bring a little piece with us when we start writing.”

ExposE does all their song writing by jamming, not with a single member coming in with a complete song. It’s a process both Coronado and Thomasy call “magical.”

“It’s really raw,” Coronado said. “Sometimes we have a concept and we’ll go one or two or three practices then next thing you know we have song out of it. It kind of just happens.”

On Oct. 1, ExposE will be opening for Alien Ant Farm at B-Ryders.

Cruz said of the show, “I think it’s a positive step. It’s a different audience and there will be more people and a place we’ve never been before. Only good can come from it.”

Thomasy says the show may have a bigger audience and more promotion, but it doesn’t seem to faze him.

“It is just another show,” Thomasy said. “We are going to get up there and do the same stuff we always do.”

However, Coronado wasn’t as reserved about the show.

“I think it’s collectively everything we have worked for. By all means, it’s by far the biggest show of my life,” Coronado said. “I’m really excited by it and hoping it won’t be the last [show of this size] that we do.”