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Bass Denver native finds musical success with bandmates
From left to right: Diego Vargas, Abby K, and Zach Gulledge
by Abigail Smathers Photography courtesy of Mario Vargas
Denver-born Abby K is heating up the southeastern music scene with her new single, “99o”. The 19-year-old bassist/vocalist and her bandmates, Diego Vargas (Guitar) and Zach Gulledge (Drums), released the song alongside a Kickstarter campaign that would help the group compile some of their 60 plus unreleased songs into a debut studio album. The single, Abby says, was inspired by her emotional struggles during the Coronavirus pandemic. “I was stuck at home and really struggling,” Abby says. “The song is kind of like a 4-minute long panic attack that takes you through the rising tension, and then you reach the boiling point, 99 degrees.” 99o turns up the heat for AbbyK, showcasing the lineup’s talent with a heavier, more raw and aggressive take on their usual melodic hard rock sound. In addition to the group’s musical talent, this newest release showcases their unique ability to draw inspiration from real-world events and create meaningful and emotionally striking works of art. After showcasing the piece during a 2021 tour with legendary guitarist Nita Strauss, Abby and her friends were inspired to take their work to the next level, turning to their community for support. “I do everything in my bedroom by myself,” Abby, who is now based out of Nashville, says. “I struggled for a long time with ask18
LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | MAY 2022
ing for money, but I just had to remember that most people have a label to pay for it. But I’m passionate. This isn’t just a job, it’s something that [we] take seriously and that [we] love, and don’t want to do anything else. It just makes sense to do this debut album.” She picked up the bass at age 13 after being influenced by Gene Simmons at a KISS Concert. Months into her musical journey, she was 1 of 3 bassists in the United States selected to attend GRAMMY Camp in Los Angeles, Calif. As of March 30, the project has reached its funding goal, and the band is gearing up for their studio sessions. “I’m excited,” Abby says. “There are a lot of songs we haven’t shared yet.” Thanks to the positive reception, praise, and support from fans and fellow musicians across the region, the group plans to record in June and release their album by October. One song in particular, Abby says, is sure to be a real head-banger. “There’s this one song, ‘Sweet Revenge’…we wrote it a couple of months ago. It was a song that just came super naturally to us, and we knew exactly what we wanted to do with it. That’s always a good sign.” You can find the band on Instagram and Twitter at @abbykrocks,or at abbykrocks.com to keep up with their latest and greatest releases, shows, and behind-the-scenes content.
