"No wind favors him who has no destined port." -- Montaighe

Musician: A true musician doesn't play his music, he bleeds his music, he sweats his music, he lives his music, he is his music. One's music should reflect his true self, his anger, his love, his hate, his weakness, and his honor. His music is not a way of making money or attaining material reward. It is a discipline, a way of life. It provides him with an understanding of who he is and is the sound of his true inner voice. It creates balance in one's life.

The AnAkA Mission Statement - By Peter Pallis.
AnAkA is a celebration of life, which to us means playing powerful and truthful music. It is a blessing that allows each of us to exude our own special talents, intensities, personalities, feelings, and beliefs into one machine. This machine in-turn is called AnAkA.

The music we play is more than just a compilation of notes and meaningful words. These are the sounds of our inner-selves. My lyrics are windows into my mind and reflections of my soul. AnAkA is a collection of ideas, not only musical but worldly. AnAkA is the way we communicate with the world around us. It is the discipline by which we choose to live our lives. AnAkA is INTENSITY.

The origins of this band come from a formation of friendship and brotherhood. That is first and foremost, and is the glue that keeps us working hard to create powerful music. We will not stop. The machine will only grow stronger, and more powerful with every motion, for this is what we are and this is what we do. We are AnAkA, "and the rest is silent" (William Shakespeare's, Hamlet).

"Now this is the Law of the Jungle- as old and as true as the sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back-
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack."
-- Ruyard Kipling, The Second Jungle Book

A Million Steps Taken, A Million More To Go.
What a ride, I started this music thing eleven years ago, and looking back, it seems like only yesterday I bought my very first guitar. I can remember the feeling I had, the awe, the determination. I’ve never lost that feeling, I made sure to hold on to the kid I was back then, and to the dreams I had. I just wanted to be great at something. I can remember envisioning what it would be like playing my heart out on a stage, and hearing the cheers in the dark just past the lights.

Most of the people I told though I was crazy, I can still remember the slight smirks on peoples faces, I could always tell who couldn’t wait to see me fail. I remember how much those smirks and fake smiles fueled me, to be honest they still do. I always believed if I put the time in and worked enough, it could happen. I never let go of that innocence, that urgency, that love. I never cared what anyone though or said, and I still don’t.

As AnAkA has grown and become a success on many different levels, it’s funny how those smirks have disappeared even walked away, far away. In fact it’s even more amusing how many of those people don’t talk to me anymore. I could say we grew apart, I could also say that they just seemed to stop talking to me. I never let go of my beliefs. I’m still that kid each and every time I hit the stage. He might be a whole lot bigger now and a bit more intense but I’m still him, He shows up, he plays his heart out, and takes in every minute of it. I know what these moments and this music will mean to me when I’m old and gray. There is no lack of appreciation here.

Some times it’s hard to believe how fast time flies by and if you don’t pay attention you might miss something. I guess the days move slowly as the years speed past. It’s been eleven years of growth and learning, challenges, and overcoming obstacles. It’s been a worthwhile struggle searching, learning, and finally understanding where my music comes from, where it’s plays the loudest within. I know where I have to go to find it. In time I’ve grown to understand how important it is to be honest, to find the words that express the true feelings. That is what people connect with. The songs are all there; you just have to have the courage, and the ability to find them.

What a road, it’s been great. All the stories, the shows, the endless days in the studio, the feeling of achievement when all the work pays off, and you hear the band on the radio, the people you meet, the fans, the support, the emails, the connections with my band mates, growing up together, the brotherhood, the highs, the lows, the struggles, the blood from punching the strings, the sweat, the lights, all the faces, the feeling you get when you perform live, the cheers, giving it your all no matter what, playing through illness, playing through pain, just playing. The intensity of performing as one force, sending our music out into the world and feeding off of the reactions it causes. The strength you feel doing what you love and knowing you’re in the prime of life, living each day in the hopes of fulfilling your goals. The blessing of creating something that can live forever. The music, the songs that define the moments of our lives, and everything that goes into being in AnAkA. It’s all a tremendous gift, and there’s so much to be thankful for.

The closer you get to the achievement, the further you feel and sometimes in life we lose sight of what’s important in all the noise. Never forget where you came from and why you’ve taken steps the road you’ve chosen in life. As the phone starts to ring more and more, as the major label curiosity grows and grows, as the venues, and the cheers get bigger, and louder, and louder, I stop and think, wow I’ve actually gotten this far, We’ve succeeded at getting our music out to people and making a connection. In a world of over blown acts, and seventy-eight minute albums, with only five minutes of good music on them, we have been able to push our band forward and make a difference. No matter what happens next, if the ultimate achievement is realized, if we play on into historic remembrance after we are eventually long gone, or if there are only a few sweet moments left, all I can say is? Thank You.

The Music Comes From Within.
Many times I have been asked where the lyrical contents of our music comes from. My answer is always very simple. The music comes from within. It comes from being an honest thinker. It comes from dealing with my everyday life and even dealing with the things I am still struggling to come to grips with from my past. There is no shame in that, that is where the best material comes from. It is about being true to the feeling and finding honesty at its source, within the self.

"The stage for me as a musician has always been a safe haven. Ironically, I find refuge in playing music in front of large crowds of people." - Peter Pallis

We are all here on this planet together, finding ourselves, facing each other, believing, suffering, living, dying, hoping, dreaming, seeing, creating, and achieving. These experiences shape who we are, they help us evolve and grow as people. These experiences effect us, some may save us, some may hurt us, but they all, in their own way, teach us. Therein lies the first idea that needs to be focused upon by a song writer.

We are all here together facing the same world. Most people think that they are alone, that no one understands them or feels the pain they feel everyday, but the truth is that we all face similar demons in this place. Others fear being honest because they do not want to expose their weakness to the world, which I find ironic because fear of self exposure is a weakness in itself. I have nothing to hide about who I am. I am what I am, and I'm proud of it. Weakness turned over becomes strengths. One needs only to understand his weakness and deal with it to turn it from a negative to a positive.

"Facing your weakness, building an understanding, creating greater strengths." -- Peter Pallis

Be honest in your writing and you will connect with people. Everyone is looking for the same cure, looking to feel un-alone, looking to feel inspired. Music provides people with such shelter if only for a little while. It connects us, for we all know what it feels like to suffer.

A Reminder.
Life, wisdom, hardship, love, hate, lust, courage, harmony, suffer, accomplishment, drive, vision, strength, honesty, divinity, heartache, bravery, compassion, achievement, struggle, thought, challenge..... a reminder....We feed off such things, we are AnAkA.