Interview with Identity X Drummer, D-Napps

Every city has their version of the "next big thing," and Pittsburgh is no different. Identity X or IDX for short has played all over the city and has accomplished many things. The band consists of David Toole: singer, D-Napps: drummer, Teener: guitar and back up vocals, and Chris: bass guitar. Their fan club is known as the Identity X army, and boy are they an army. I got to sit down with D-Napps and ask him some questions about the band.

When and how did Identity X form? -

Identity X was formed in 2003...the main foundation started with David Toole (singer/guitarist), and Me (DNAPPS- lead guitar)...we played in a band prior to Identity X in high school....and we decided to take this a step farther....so we opted to look for serious musicians who wanted to make a career out of it...

How would you describe you musical/writing style?

Identity X's music writing style would fall into the subgenre's of rock, alternative, and metal .....We like to include heavy, aggressive breakdowns and thrash riffs commonly found in metal...as well as incoporate melodic vocals that are more common to rock....so we are a combination of a lot of different styles mixed into one....Out music has been compared to Incubus, Lostprophets, Trapt, Thrice, Story of the Year, Funeral For a Friend...etc..

What other musicians have been an inspiration for you? -

Personally Wes Borland, the former guitarist from Limp Bizkit....Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine...Mike Einziger from Incubus....Daron Malakian from System of a Down..and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez from the Mars Volta..It's one thing to write a song...but these guys were innovators....and still are....their ability to produce wierd sounds and make them work in a mainstream song is genius...i always looked up to musicians who tried to go above and beyond the status quo....

What do you think was your biggest obstacle getting to where you are now?