Students at Oak Hills High School didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary when walking into the gymnasium for a pep rally. But this time was different; the newly-formed school rock band, Ex. Machina. made their debut playing Green Day and left many students excited for the next pep rally.
Ex. Machina started their journey in 2024, and only a year later, they are already booking more events and gaining more interest from fans. Originally, they were composed of four members: freshmen Nate Warren as the singer and freshmen Jace Manlief as lead guitarist, sophomore Brady Conley, on bass, and senior Evan Valero on drums. When their drummer graduated, the roles shifted as it is now Conley on drums and Manlief on bass, with Warren taking over as lead guitarist.
“Right now, it’s just us three, but we’re also doing stuff outside of school,” Warren Said. He also stated, “The night before prom, we actually played a set at a talent show at Delhi Convention Center.”
Leaning towards a post-grunge or alternative style, Ex. Machina is finding their balance, proving to be more than just a rock band. Each band member’s distinct personality helps contribute to their cohesive dynamic, their individual traits reflected in the instruments they play.
“I grew up with my dad’s music from the ‘90s grunge movement, so I see Nirvana as one of my biggest musical inspirations,” Warren stated. The bassist of the band, Manlief, talks about his shared interests with Conley, “Brady and I are into a lot heavier music; I personally love Metallica.”
Being part of a team like this also comes with its difficulties. Each member recounted how it was hard in the beginning to merge their musical styles while also learning to work together.
“You learn a lot of soft skills from being in a band,” Warren said. “It really taught us how to manage our time and work with other people.” Performing enhanced their social skills and confidence.
Conley’s boyfriend, Syd Adams, recollects how being part of Ex. Machina has shaped him. “It’s brought a lot more stage confidence to him…he used to have a lot of issues with performing on stage, and I think he’s grown a lot from that, and it’s definitely due to all the effort he’s put in,” Adams said.
In the long run, their hard work and dedication earned them an invitation to perform at the Oak Hills prom 2025.
“Prom is pretty much where this band really started,” Warren said. “It felt… weird to play at prom. We only had about 2 months to prepare for it… It was definitely pretty scary at the start, but once you get through it, it was one of the most fun experiences you’ll ever have.”
Being the lead singer in a band, Warren has to be front and center on stage. He often has to deal with the performance anxiety that comes from being in front of a large crowd.
“One of the things you learn when you’re on stage is that the crowd isn’t going to notice your mistakes, and when you do make a mistake, you just gotta roll with it,” Warren said.
They built this confidence by establishing a relationship with one another that grew with time: “I didn’t know any of them before this,” Warren stated. The countless hours spent practicing together inevitably led to each member feeling connected with each other and the band itself. “This really has made us so much closer together…I’m gonna miss you guys when it’s over,” Manlief said.
To all young aspiring music artists, Nate Warren’s advice is this: “It’s a mix of seriousness and fun,” Warren said. “Being in a band is definitely worth it; you learn so many lessons that help later in life. We really work towards our fame.”
As Ex. Machina continues to perform at local events, their growing chemistry draws an ever‑wider audience. For now, their presence on stage has strengthened school pride at Oak Hills and inspired others to pursue their musical ambitions.
