The members of Undefeated, Meredith Dunckel (lead vocalist/guitarist), Christian Dunckel (drums/percussion) and Ian Birk (bass guitar), somehow find time to play some tunes, between all of their extra curricular activities – Rubik’s cubes, juggling, sleeping, eating and… pineapples(?) just for example (check their Facebook page!)

Seriously though, the Lowville, New York three piece do take their music seriously, and judging by the singles released so far, they are totally diverse.  “Where Are You” is a full blown ballad, while “Shadows” is a catchy pop influences rock song.  With the three members all sharing vastly different musical tastes, including classic rock and metalcore, Undefeated’s sound could potentially go in any number of directions.

The future could be pretty bright for this group.

For the latest instalment of our “Introducing” series, we chat with Meredith about the brief history of the band, their future and all things in between…

What does the band name mean to you?

We were driving back from playing at the annual Rock N Worship Festival in Dalton, MA. We straight up ripped the name off of the rap song Undefeated by KB. Being “undefeated” is not a declaration of us per se. It is a reflection that life will beat you down; but there is a path. It is set out for you and all you have to do is walk it. You can’t lose!

Where is the band based?

We’re a teen rock band from northern New York! We live 45 minutes from the Canadian Border.

How long have you been together?

2 1/2 years! August 5th is our 3rd “bandiversary”.

What style of music do you play?

Booming bass, war-like drums, and a lil bit o’ glitter. There is a lot of classic rock and country up here,  and comes out whether we mean it to or not! So we embrace it, and make it more metal:)

Give us the story of the bands formation.

Believe it or not, the host of the Rock N Worship Festival in Dalton, MA, walked up to me (Meredith… the gal with green hair!). For some unknown reason he was like “hey! I want you to come sing!”. I was playing electric guitar for my church’s youth band (needless to say, it was a less-than-stellar performance).

So, I went. I had just turned 14. There were all ages and genres at the Rock N Worship Fest; from metal to reggae to gospel. Something clicked. These people were like me! I asked my younger brother (a rockin’ drummer) on the 4-hour ride home to start a band, and he said yes! 

We met bassist Ian through mutual friends. (Truthfully, he literally fell -he says he jumped- out of a tree. But I guess there’s worse ways to meet people!)

We played under the banner ‘Undefeated’ for the first time August 5th, 2017 on the lawn of a bookstore.

Tell us about your influences.

Let me tell ya how we come together. Our drummer (Christian) is a die-hard djent/metal/screamo fan. Ian’s (bassist) heart was born and raised in classic rock. You know, The Beatles, Zeppelin, the whole thing. 

Then there’s me. I LOVE to sing. You can’t take a singer and stick her in one genre. The trick is melding these three sounds without losing what God gave each one. The whole is greater than the piece.

Personally, I’ve also really been loving all of Lacey Sturm’s stuff! Killer lyrics, music, the whole thing.

Tell us about your latest release.

We just put out our second single, Where Are You.  It’s a ballad crying out for when you can’t see. It has been one of our most requested live songs!

Where is your music available?

Anywhere and everywhere! We’re still growing, so you might have to search “Meredith” or “Dunckel” along with the band name “Undefeated” !

What are your goals for the bands future?

The number one goal is to explode our sound. Sometimes you have to stand against the people who tell you to only be one sound. Some of the best metal bands in history put out a kickin’ ballad.

If you could share the stage with any other band or artist, who would you chose?

Tenth Avenue North, The Rolling Stones, and Red. That would make a heck of a concert, wouldn’t it?

What can you tell us about your live shows?  

Our lead vocalist can flat out sing. Christian is a BEAST on the drums. The bassist adds smoooooth lines. Our show include ballads for those who like it from the heart; and some rockin’ tunes for you head-bangers. You’re not going to sit and listen to the same sound over and over.

Do you have any upcoming gigs to promote?

Wellllll… we did. Everything is on hold due to the health of the world with COVID-19. We had shows in New Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts, and locally, all pending a reschedule. We are scheduled for the new date for Hope for Worcester, which is the last weekend in July!

What do you think sets you apart from other bands?

The range of the songs. Some are vocal focused, others you can bury yourself in the drum and guitars lines. We get a lot of good feedback on our lyrics. (I have a poetic heart!)

Explain why you think a new listener should give your music a go.

Our fans (we call them friends!) love the drums (and drummer), and love the lyrics / vocals. People come back over and over. Everything we write is clean, so parents with a metal soul can bring their kids! It’s surprising how many young kids really like rockin’ metal when exposed to it.

What has been your biggest achievement as a band, so far?

We were nominated for a Kindred Award, “New Group” ! That was pretty awesome. We’re also playing our first single, Shadows, at the award show!

Filming two music videos and finishing a 5-song EP! (To be released later this year!) It was hard to narrow down to our five best songs that give people a range of what we do.

What else do you hope to achieve?

We want to go on the road. Travel overseas.

Where can fans find you online?

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/undefeatedofficialmusic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/undefeated_official/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrXWbsn9Ey3ft62D4zVSStA

We’d love to connect with you all, please reach out!