When I heard that the band Absolute Silence was doing a fundraising concert at Ocean Way Studios to benefit the Isaiah 117 House non-profit, I was all in to support them because I know how vitally important their work is. What I was not prepared for was what an otherworldly rock trio Absolute Silence was.
Absolute Silence is a piano-led rock trio from Nashville, Tennessee, combining explosive live performances, cinematic songwriting, and modern production influences.
They consist of a power-rock drummer, Harrison Nemarich (Harry); an EDM-jazz bassist, Robert Darmstadt (Bobby); and an animated, ballad-loving pianist, Steven Okoniewski (Steve), who bring their unmatched talent together to collide in the best possible way. To say that I’ve never heard anything like them is an understatement. With a fearless blend of raw energy and undeniable chemistry, their music defies boundaries and demands to be heard.
Steve explained, “We all have different backgrounds, and we’re all quite different from each other, and I think that’s what makes our music so interesting and dynamic.”
The trio met at Belmont. Steve and Bobby were both transfer students who met at registration. They knew they needed a drummer to proceed with the idea of a band. Several weeks later, they saw Harrison twirling his drumsticks, and Steve asked him if he was any good. They hit it off and have been running around across the country and the world ever since.
When I heard “Piano Man on the Moon,” I was blown away by its piano-led, jazzy, punk feel. I am not sure how they can be so electrifying when they don’t even have an official electric guitarist in their band. “We’re just the rhythm section,” Steve said. Steve picks up the guitar when needed, and fellow musicians join them from time to time. Check out “Life Is a Song” for a punk-leaning version of themselves.
Steve said, “From the beginning, we wanted to do something to break out and be more than just a college band playing parties. We wanted that before we even played our first show, which was a college party. We had an opportunity to open for a major artist and tour the country as their opener. Then their label dropped us weeks before we departed. We had dropped out of college. We were ready to go. We were prepared. And then just weeks before taking off, they dropped us.”
He continued, “Most people would have thrown in the hat there and mosey on back to college or whatever. And we said, ‘Screw that. We’re not stopping.’ We called every venue from here, across Texas, through California, Colorado, the Northeast, and back home over the course of a month and a half. We got in our little car, and we drove and played anywhere that would take us, that would pay us, feed us, put us up, anything. We had to busk and play on the street at Santa Monica Pier because we couldn’t afford to get from LA to San Francisco. But we made it happen.”
The rocker “OMG” in 2024 helped fans discover Absolute Silence and their unique alternative sound.
Since then, Absolute Silence have played more than 300 shows since January 2025 across the U.S., Europe, the UK, and South Africa, and they’re finishing their debut album at Dark Horse Recording in Franklin with Grammy-nominated producer Leah Haywood.
The fully independent band books its own shows and has a strong following in Europe, where fans appreciate their alternative rock, jazz-infused, punk-like sound. They recently sold out several shows in Paris.
Last week, I saw Absolute Silence at the Fox and Locke outside of Nashville, where they introduced a new song, “Loving You,” that was like nothing I had ever heard at a local dive. I had to pinch myself to think that I could hear something so magnificent in a venue that barely holds 100 people.
Now the trio is back in Nashville recording a live album with strings and horns inside Ocean Way Nashville on October 23, in front of about 100 invited guests, with the night filmed for a concert film/documentary. They’ve made the evening a benefit for Isaiah 117 House’s Davidson County home, which gives children removed from their homes a safe, comforting place to wait for foster placement.
At the Ocean Way event, they offer an intimate setting and their commitment to giving back through a recording intended to keep making an impact long after the final note is played.
Begin Again: An Evening at Ocean Way takes place Friday, October 23 at Ocean Way Nashville and is invitation-only. Additional details surrounding the live album and concert film/documentary. To reserve your seat for the live recording, visit beginagainnashville.com.
Absolute Silence are still working on their debut album, and I remarked, “I’ve never heard anybody record a live album before recording their debut album.”
Steve asserted, “That’s on par for our level of insanity. Maybe it’s because we don’t have management. I don’t know. But we love music. We love people. We love spreading love and giving back.”
Following the live recording, Absolute Silence will finish their debut album. After that, they will be back to doing what they do best, touring the world and giving fans an eclectic, electrifying experience they won’t soon forget.
Follow Absolute Silence on their website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and all streaming platforms.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and TikTok.
