Stormstress was born on a stormy night in October 2019 at a coffee shop on the campus of Berklee College of Music in Boston, but their story begins a couple of years earlier. A pair of axe-slinging dreamer twins from Detroit and a nature-loving drummer girl from across the pond all came to Boston on their own journeys to pursue music school.
By 2017, in what feels like a past life, Maddie joined the twins to complete the rhythm section of an eclectic rock band that the twins had formed with others while at Berklee College of Music. From the first song they played together, they saw a glimpse of the magic they could make. Over time, it became clear that the three had a shared vision and a fiery desire to move in a musically heavier direction.
After the downfall of their previous band, the three of them felt that they needed to continue as a trio because they found their musical soul mates in each other. They decided to create their own new band, where they could have full creative control over the sound, stage show, and mission!
Strangely enough, all three members are naturally quite shy – the twins were diagnosed with selective mutism as kids – but together, they form a powerful force to be reckoned with! Thus, in 2019, only a few months after the previous band’s demise, the trio announced Stormstress, a brand new, heavy metal power trio fronted by shy twins-turned heavy metal front people!
From humble beginnings performing 3–4-hour cover sets at dive bars to earning amazing opportunities opening for incredible acts like Plush, Burning Witches, The Iron Maidens, Liliac, and Fire House, Stormstress has witnessed first-hand how dedication, appreciation, and being true to yourself will pay off far greater than trying to be who others want you to be.
Maddie, Tanya and Tye are best friends whose lofty shared dream is to make it all the way to the top and turn Stormstress into a household name in the hard rock/heavy metal scene, spreading their messages of empowerment, self-awareness, and authenticity throughout the known and unknown universe!
Stormstress and Their Excitement for Riff Fest
What excites you the most about Playing at Riff Fest?
Maddie: I am personally most excited to open up the festival and get the crowd absolutely PUMPED and to meet a whole new group of potential fans that have never even heard of us before!
Tanya: I am so excited to be representing my most favorite radio station of all time at my most favorite venue of all time!! I remember seeing Journey perform at Pine Knob when I was a tween and ever since that night, I have dreamed of the day that I would get to play that legendary venue. I went on to see Aerosmith, Avenged Sevenfold, Gojira, Disturbed, Def Leppard, and so many more of my favorite bands come through and after every show, my vision of playing that stage one day became more and more vivid.
I cannot believe this magical day has come where not only do I get to play at Pine Knob, but I get to play RIFF FEST at Pine Knob!! 101 WRIF has always been a beacon of great, heavy music in Detroit, and it is a true honor and great point of excitement to be on this legendary show! I can’t wait to feel that energy and share it with the crowd!
Tye: To be a part of such a stacked festival with powerhouse rock stars like Godsmack, Seether and so many more is a dream come true! Not to mention we’ll be playing at Pine Knob which has been a goal of mine since I saw my first concert there. I am excited to feel the energy of the crowd, the artists, and the crew because something tells me this is going to be a momentous event!
Do you have any Riffest memories as fans?
This will be the first time any of us have attended Riff Fest and we absolutely cannot wait to make lifelong memories on this coveted stage as well as behind the autograph booth and wandering around the festival meeting new fans!
Any Special Projects Coming Up?
Tanya: Later this year we will be releasing a metal cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” that we recorded at Detroit’s own FBT Studios, as a special treat for our fans while we complete the writing process for our second full length album! We also have a potential Euro tour in the works for Spring 2025!
Maddie
Maddie Mae Scott, drummer and vocalist of the band “Stormstress”.
I love to do anything outdoorsy! I’m obsessed with hiking and camping, hanging out around a firepit with friends, or chilling in a hammock. I like learning about gardening and all kinds of plants and bugs. I’m very into gardening for pollinators and doing whatever I can to promote a sustainable habitat for native critters. I love traveling to new places, learning about new cultures, and listening to different languages ( I was born in England and raised in France, so I speak French fluently and English).
I am also obsessed with dogs and have fostered 20+ dogs for a local (to me) dog rescue. I’m timid, but if you plop a dog before me, I’ll immediately come out of my shell. I love reading and listening to audiobooks – my current favorite book is Remarkably Bright Creatures. I don’t watch too much TV or movies, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would either be A Knight’s Tale or Hacksaw Ridge. Of course, to end this on a musical note, my current favorite bands (although this changes weekly) are Parkway Drive and Avatar.
Tanya
Tanya Venom pictured. Tanya is the lead singer and guitarist of “Stormstress”.
I consider myself a siren by day and a vampire by night! I am a water sign who adores swimming in all forms, especially warm indoor pools that have excellent acoustics for singing! I love traveling and experiencing new lands far and wide, especially when I’m on the road with my band of besties! When I’m home, I like to recharge my adventure battery by hiding out in my cave and playing Nintendo games or watching funny shows into the wee hours of the night.
I’ve been enjoying nighttime summer walks, tarot card readings, and drawing in my sketchbook before bed. My favorite movies tend to be spooky horror / psychological thrillers that make me question my reality, so I especially love mind-bending Stephen King adaptations! I love vibing to albums based on my mood; some of the albums I’ve been crushing lately are “Back From The Dead” by Halestorm, “Zunge” by Til Lindemann, “Impera” by Ghost, “The Tortured Poets Department” by Taylor Swift and the new Fleshgod Apocalypse album, “Opera” for when I’m feeling incredibly intense.
Tye
Tye Mayhem, bassist and vocalist of the band “Stormstress”.
I am obsessed with Bass and Outer Space! Whenever I need to relax, playing video games is one of the first things that comes to mind. Whether customizing my town on Animal Crossing, exploring vast worlds on Mass Effect, or going classic with Mario Kart 64, video games help distract me when my thoughts feel incredibly anxious between tours. Going for walks, swimming, or drumming on my electric kit are what I jump to when I need to blow off steam and process my thoughts.
I enjoy watching Sci-fi shows like the Star Trek series and imagining cool new worlds. I love twisted horror movies and skulls and celebrate the spooky season perennially while simultaneously enjoying irreverent comedies and both adult and kid cartoons. As someone who recently came out as a trans guy, I’ve been putting a heavier focus on journaling, mental health awareness, and allowing for the continued discovery of my most authentic self.
