San Diego Reader

Josh Kmak: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals | Nayshawn Maddox: Bass guitar | Cameron Sisti: Drums

Genre: Alternative, Rock

Upcoming Local Shows

Related Links:

• http://www.reverbnation.com/thenformals

• Jam Session: "Please Like the Nformals" · Jan. 10, 2012

Synoposis

Inception: San Diego, 2010

Influences: The Hives, the Strokes, the Vines

Background:

Indie alternative band the Nformals was founded in 2010 by several musical teens, including singer/guitarist/songwriter Josh Kmak (aka Joshua Scott), nephew of longtime local player Jef Kmak (Joey Harris and the Mentals, etc.), along with drummer Cameron Sisti, and a bassist from Texas named Nayshawn Maddox.

“He didn’t have a bass or even an amp at first.” Scott, who lives in La Mesa, says they borrowed the gear from his uncle Jef Kmak.

The name Kmak in and of itself represents something of an El Cajon music dynasty. Joshua's uncle Joel, who plays drums, co-founded the Penetrators. He left to join the Hitmakers; he was also a Crawdaddy. After the death of Country Dick Montana, Kmak played tribute dates with the Beat Farmers and now holds down the percussion slot in the Farmers, a Beat Farmers spin-off. He was in Powerthud too, with his brother Jef, who sings and plays bass in Joey Harris and the Mentals and in the Seventh Day Buskers.

Johnny Kmak, Josh’s dad likewise played music but took it in a different direction. In the 1990s he formed Johnny and the Goiters, as such dedicated to becoming the worst beer bar band ever, a pursuit that some say was successful.

Josh describes himself as a riff master. He often comes up with segments of songs, then, the rest of the band figures out what to do with his ideas. This is how they build songs. “Kind of like a puzzle. We put all the riffs together. Or, through random jamming we’ll generate some kind of songs.”

The Nformals have an eponymous demo. “They’re free. We’re passing them out.” He thinks he’d like to start leaving some at bus stops, diners, or in the public library to generate some level of buzz. “We’re not worried about the money. We’re just trying to build a fan base. We just wanna get the ‘likes’ up on Facebook, and spread the word.”