Young Pioneer is an alternative rock band based out of Brighton, Michigan. They currently play small shows around Michigan, more specifically, Lansing. Young Pioneer, previously Signals, began four years ago when guitarist Jonny Walker and a guitarist named Mitch (who recently left) decided to start a band. The two found singer Ben Awrey and bassist Bob Schmid along the way and picked up guitarist Jason Marr and drummer Austin Howard after a falling out with their previous band.

“Music has always been such a huge passion for me,” Walker said. “I never knew how to play guitar in high school, so I always practiced in front of a mirror, so I finally decided to join a band.”

Walker said, explaining his interest in music.

“Our generation are the people that are coming up next and are kind of pioneers of the next generation of what’s gonna be happening in this world, so we’re the Young Pioneers that are shaping this world,” Schmid said.

“Being a pioneer is all about pushing forward,” Awrey said.

“‘When Does The Night End’ [the band’s newly released album]is a little dark, but also with a hopeful tone,” Awrey said.

“When Does The Night End” is about the emotional journey from being unsure in life to the realization of their immaturity.

“Sometimes life is rough. Sometimes something really sucks and you find yourself asking when is this going to end? But what keeps us going is that knowing that it’s going to end soon,” Awrey said.

Walker is suprised they have been together so long.

“It’s crazy that we’ve been a band for four years. All of my other bands never made it past a year, so this is definitely an accomplishment,” Walker said. Before joining Young Pioneer, Jason Marr and Austin Howard were in a band called Lights And Caves.

Marr toured the country with L.A. Street Lunatic for ten years before joining Lights And Caves, where he met Howard for the first time.

Even after touring the country, Marr felt that Young Pioneer stood out to him from many other bands he had seen.

“I don’t think it’s about the music, it’s about us as people. We like to meet all our fans, we like to watch the bands we play with, we like to interact with whoever we can,” Marr said.

They value every person who takes a chance on their music, because unlike others, Young Pioneer is founded on being humble