Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Reba Meyers was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she was first exposed to punk and hardcore music in her early teens. Growing up going to local shows, she became enthralled with the raw energy and aggression of bands like Black Flag, Minor Threat, and others from the 80s hardcore scene. She picked up her first guitar at age 13, determined to start making her own music.
Being from Pittsburgh, an underdog city with a thriving underground music community, helped shape Reba’s defiant spirit and DIY approach. She has said that the city’s vibrant punk and metal scenes showed her that there was a place for weird kids like her. As a self-taught guitarist, Reba drew inspiration from the technical riffage and shredding solos of hardcore acts like Converge as well as the 90s alt-rock she heard on the radio. The fusion of these influences would eventually become the foundation of her unique sound.
Forming Adventures: Reba’s First Hardcore Band
Even from a young age, Reba Meyers knew she wanted to pursue music. As a teenager growing up in Pittsburgh, she became enamored with the local hardcore punk scene. Inspired by this raw, aggressive sound, Reba picked up the guitar and taught herself how to play.
It wasn’t long before Reba started making music with friends from high school. Together they formed the hardcore punk band Adventures in 2006, with Reba on guitar and vocals. Though just teenagers, the band members were united by their passion for hardcore and desire to create their own socio-political, feminist-charged music.
In those early days, Adventures played local house shows and DIY venues around Pittsburgh. Their energetic live performances showcased Reba’s snarling vocals and heavy guitar riffs. Drawing influences from bands like Black Flag, Minor Threat and Converge, Adventures carved out their own ferocious, mosh-inducing hardcore punk style.
With Reba as a key creative force and founding member, Adventures built up a following in the regional hardcore scene. Little did she know then that this was just the beginning of her life-long journey in heavy music.
Code Orange: From Code Orange Kids to Grammy Noms
Code Orange started out in 2008 as Code Orange Kids, with Reba and her friends playing hardcore punk as teenagers in Pittsburgh. The band went through some lineup changes in their early years, with Reba being one of the consistent members and main songwriters.
Around 2014, the band decided to shorten their name to Code Orange and began to shift towards a heavier, more experimental metalcore sound. Their 2014 album I Am King featured a rawer production style and showcased the band embracing a more abrasive, industrial-tinged sound.
Code Orange’s breakthrough came with the release of their 2017 album Forever. The album fused elements of hardcore, industrial metal, and even nu metal, forging a unique sound all their own. Songs like "Bleeding in the Blur" and "The Mud" featured pummeling down-tuned guitars and Reba’s fierce vocals. Forever earned Code Orange a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.
The band continued to push their sound forward with their 2020 album Underneath. The album featured even more experimentation, with dissonant textures, electronic elements, and cinematic interludes. Reba’s versatile guitar work shines on tracks like "Swallowing the Rabbit Whole." Underneath earned the band their second Grammy nomination, this time for Best Rock Album.
Code Orange’s journey from their teenage punk beginnings to Grammy-nominated innovators displays the band’s constant drive to break boundaries and forge new musical territory. Reba’s creative spirit has been essential in shaping Code Orange’s one-of-a-kind, genre-defying sound.
Reba’s Dual Role in Both Bands
As a guitarist and vocalist in both Adventures and Code Orange, Reba Meyers has crafted a dynamic dual musical role. In Adventures, she provides the band’s raw, aggressive riffage and also contributes harsh, screaming vocals. Her guitar playing shows influences from punk and hardcore legends like Greg Ginn of Black Flag with its fuzzy, distorted tones. And her impassioned vocal delivery channels the fierce energy of 80s and 90s punk frontwomen.
In Code Orange, Reba’s guitar work is more textural and experimental, with industrial tones mixed with her signature hardcore crunch. She shreds dissonant chords, textural noise, and grooving riffs to complement the band’s dark, chaotic vibe. As a vocalist, she provides everything from ethereal, sung vocals to guttural roars and impassioned screams. Her versatility allows Code Orange to shape-shift between genres and styles seamlessly. She is able to match the dynamic moods of each song with her ever-evolving vocal approach.
Whether she’s unleashing a whirlwind of punk fury in Adventures or crafting a multilayered sonic assault in Code Orange, Reba’s unique blend of guitar and vocal talents is essential to both bands’ appeal. Her ability to channel chaos and vulnerability, aggression and emotion, gives the music its raw power.
Adventures’ Raw Hardcore Punk Style
Adventures formed while Reba and her friends were still in high school, driven by their passion for raw, aggressive hardcore punk. They were heavily influenced by bands like Black Flag, Minor Threat, and Converge, aiming to capture the intensity and rebellious spirit of 80s and 90s hardcore.
The band wasted no time playing local shows and recording EPs and albums like "Fuck The Patriarchy" and "Dreamcrusher," showcasing their stripped-down punk rock energy. Reba’s guitar riffs added crunch and edge, while her vocals could alternate between menacing growls and piercing screams.
Lyrically, Adventures has never shied away from socio-political themes in their songs. With bold titles like "Death to Cops" and "Capitalism," they tackle issues of inequality, discrimination, and corruption head-on. Reba’s songwriting introduces perspectives not often heard in hardcore, with feminist rallying cries and calls to action.
While they’ve flown under the mainstream radar, Adventures has earned a cult following for their authentic DIY approach and refusal to compromise their values. Reba’s influential role as guitarist and songwriter has been vital in shaping their impact.
Code Orange’s Genre-Defying Sound
Code Orange formed in 2008 under the name Code Orange Kids, starting off with a more traditional hardcore punk sound. But over the years, the band embraced a heavier and more experimental direction, incorporating influences from nu-metal, industrial, and cinematic soundscapes.
With their 2014 album I Am King, Code Orange began introducing more textures and layers into their hardcore foundation. The industrial tones and dissonant atmosphere hinted at the groundbreaking sound to come.
Their breakthrough arrived with 2017’s Forever, which fused their hardcore roots with crushing nu-metal riffs and eerie, cinematic interludes. Songs like "Bleeding in the Blur" and "The Mud" featured down-tuned guitars, electronic elements, and ominous movie samples. Reba’s guitar tones alternated between gnarly, processed metal sounds and sparse, dissonant lines.
This cinematic approach fully took shape on 2020’s Underneath. Code Orange leaned into a horror movie-inspired sound, with many comparing it to the works of directors like David Lynch. Guitars churned and groaned, while electronic bleeps and bloops wove around thundering drums. Interludes featured dialogue from cryptic voiceovers, immersing listeners in a dark sonic world.
Reba’s creative guitar work is essential in building these immersive soundscapes. She sculpts textures both thunderous and sparse, mirroring the band’s mix of raw aggression and eerie atmosphere. Code Orange refuses to be boxed into one genre, always pushing their sound into new territory. And Reba’s guitar wizardry leads the way.
Reba Meyers’ Signature ESP Guitar
Reba Meyers has partnered with ESP Guitars to design her own signature model, the LTD RM-600. This guitar is perfectly tailored to Reba’s hardcore and metal guitar style and tone.
The RM-600 has a unique angular shape with a flat-top, soloist style body. It’s a 6-string electric guitar with a mahogany body and maple neck, topped with an ebony fingerboard. The guitar has 24 extra jumbo frets and a thin U-shaped neck for fast playing.
For electronics, the RM-600 is equipped with an EMG 81TW pickup in the bridge and EMG 60TW in the neck. These active pickups provide a powerful, crisp tone perfect for hardcore riffing. The guitar has a single volume knob, 3-way toggle pickup switch, and TonePros locking tune-o-matic bridge and tailpiece for rock solid tuning stability.
Reba’s signature ESP is available in a striking Snow White finish, with black hardware and binding. The headstock features Reba’s stylized "RM" logo. Visually, everything about this guitar screams hardcore attitude.
According to Reba, the RM-600 has become her go-to guitar both live and in the studio. The EMG active pickups and maple fingerboard produce the tight, aggressive tone she needs for Code Orange’s heavy riffs and dissonant chords. When switching to Adventures, the ESP guitar also nails the raw, distortion-laden sound of old school hardcore punk.
With its focused design, unique specs and tailored tone, Reba’s signature LTD RM-600 guitar gives her the perfect hardcore weapon to shred on stage and in the studio. This is a guitar built for speed, power and intense heavy music.
Breaking Barriers: A Female Guitarist in Heavy Music
Reba Meyers has had to overcome many doubts and challenges throughout her career as a woman playing in hardcore and metal bands. As the guitarist and co-vocalist of Code Orange, she is helping break down barriers for women in heavy music.
Being the sole female member of Code Orange, Reba has dealt with preconceived notions and skepticism about her abilities early on. However, she has proven herself to be just as fierce, aggressive, and talented as her male bandmates. Her technical guitar skills, harsh screams, and intense performances command respect on stage.
Reba hopes to inspire more girls and women to pick up guitars and pursue their musical dreams in the hardcore and metal scenes. While these genres have typically been male-dominated, Reba serves as an empowering role model for aspiring female musicians. She wants to open doors for the next generation.
In interviews, Reba has spoken about the need for more gender diversity and representation in heavy music. With Code Orange’s unique, genre-bending sound that pushes boundaries, Reba is helping lead the way. She is carving out space for women to be creative leaders in hardcore and metal, rather than token additions to male-fronted bands.
Reba’s songwriting touches on themes of empowerment, overcoming adversity, and inner strength. Her lyrics and stage presence showcase women as powerful forces to be reckoned with. Through her words and performances, Reba inspires women in the audience to embrace their authentic selves and talents.
Code Orange’s Continued Evolution
Code Orange continues to push musical boundaries and evolve their genre-defying sound. After their breakthrough album Forever landed Grammy nominations, the band shows no signs of slowing down.
On their most recent album Underneath, Code Orange further experiments with dissonant riffs, electronic textures, and cinematic concepts. Songs like "Swallowing the Rabbit Whole" showcase the band’s ambition to create immersive sonic experiences.
In an interview with Kerrang!, Reba Meyers discussed the band’s outlook for the future. "We’re always trying to absorb different styles of music and see how we can incorporate them into what we do," she said. Meyers explained that the band has an endless drive to create new sounds.
Looking ahead, Code Orange plans to unveil even more bold concepts through their music and visuals. They want to continue captivating fans with their intense live shows. According to Meyers, the band has "big ideas" in the works for future albums and tours.
Beyond their collective goals, Meyers also has personal aspirations as a guitarist and songwriter. She aims to keep evolving her musical skills in order to realize the band’s creative vision. Meyers wants to continue inspiring female musicians in heavy music. Overall, she is focused on innovation, authenticity, and connecting with fans through Code Orange’s boundary-pushing music.
Impact on Pittsburgh Music Scene
As a native of Pittsburgh, Reba Meyers has had a huge impact on the city’s thriving music scene. She actively gives back by nurturing and supporting the next generation of young bands coming out of Steel City.
Reba often goes out of her way to check out local hardcore and metal shows in Pittsburgh to discover new talent. She offers advice and encouragement to up-and-coming groups, drawing from her own experiences starting out as a teenager in Adventures and Code Orange.
In interviews, Reba has spoken about the importance of cultivating a strong local music community: "Pittsburgh has such a great scene and so many kids starting bands and putting on shows. I love giving them advice and inspiration to keep chasing their dreams."
She wants to empower more young girls and women to pick up instruments and start bands in the male-dominated hardcore/metal genres. Reba has taught guitar workshops focused on getting girls into playing heavy music.
The guitarist also stresses the need for venues and spaces that support underground bands. She believes it’s crucial for cities like Pittsburgh to have all-ages spots where new artists can develop their sound and perform.
Overall, Reba Meyers has been instrumental in nurturing the next wave of talent in Pittsburgh’s storied punk/hardcore music scene. Her guidance helps inspire the future generation of boundary-pushing bands coming out of the city.