He describes his band's sound as "heavy, guitar-driven rock and roll." And that's exactly what drummer Will DeHaan's band is, a rock band. In just a few short years, the Melbourne-based rock outfit, ANEW, has evolved from peddling their do-it-yourself home demos at school and playing gigs in local parking lots to performing statewide and recording with an experienced producer while generating an enormous buzz in the process. What makes this a particularly impressive feat is that the band is primarily made up of high school-age players.

ANEW embarked upon a 2009 summer tour, playing various dates throughout Florida. The band placed 1st in a recent Tampa Battle of the Bands and placed 2nd in a Jacksonville competition sponsored by WAPE - 95.1 FM. They also spent considerable time recently, holed up in Tallahassee's Annihilation Studio working with producer Rob Allsopp. And in October they released their official debut record; an EP entitled "Wake Up Now."

In a recent interview with Brevard Live, drummer Will DeHaan indicated that the band was considering a relocation to the Tampa area after its members finish high school next year. DeHaan enjoys the distinction of having secured endorsement deals with both Soultone Cymbals and Pork Pie Percussion -- quite an accomplishment for even the most experienced rock vet, let alone the star drummer of his high school's jazz band. Yet despite the obvious pitfalls of pursuing a career in the music business, ANEW seems undeterred. DeHaan added, "I think we'll keep our gear and keep playing!"