TAKE A LOOK AT US NOW

When artists collectively enter their zone, magical things can happen. For Austin, Texas-based trio Fort Never, that magic is their own Never-Neverland, a place where their creative energies combine and soar, and where spirited music is made. Three artists, from three different musical walks of life, are out to bring their respective skills to the table to form one cohesive unit with a focus on true artistry and love. Get to know Fort Never.

Fort Never frontperson Chantell Moody left Des Moines, Iowa to pursue music, yet had a bigger goal in mind. “I was ready to create a life where I could thrive. I needed healing and to reprogram the person I was.” She battled with depression in Iowa, opting for a fresh start in Austin. “I craved to be in an artistic community. I wanted a life worth living. I needed to dance and sing to be healthy.” Leaving with nothing but her car, a few clothes, and her guitar, she bid farewell to her old life and entered the indie music hub of Austin, fronting the band The Digital Wild.

Producer Timmie Rook, meanwhile, had been traveling the band circuit since leaving his hometown of Allentown, PA. A pianist since the age of 7, Timmie had a sharp ear and when he met Chantell at a party in 2014, it was musical kismet. Chantell was urged to hear his music, and when she did, she was blown away. “I was so excited to finally meet somebody I could make music with,” she reflects. “I was like, ‘This guy gets it.’”

 The two casually released songs over Soundcloud, collaborating under the name Ft. Hood. They played a small show at SXSW in 2015, and decided once and for all that they would become a structured band. Then along came Deano Cote.

A Crohn’s Disease fighter and the grandson of a Jazz drummer, Deano left North Kingstown, RI to take his drumming to Austin. As a member of the band Sorne, he was buzzing on the indie music circuit. “I was a superfan,” Chantell says with a laugh. Timmie bumped into Deano at a party. “ I challenged him to a danceoff,” Timmie adds, later inviting Deano to a session. They added Deano, renamed their band Fort Never, and the rest is history. “We vibed just right off the bat,” Deano says.

 In 2017, they released their collective debut project Home, an electronic-heavy work that displayed various angles of the band’s personality. The meaning of “home” was woven intricately into the lyrics and production. “To me, it was like finding home no matter where you were,” Timmie says of the work. “Putting that project together was very therapeutic for us.”

There’s a reason why the band is called Fort Never. When they join forces, it’s like tapping into a childlike adventurous energy where limitations don’t exist. “I’ve always felt when me, Timmie, and Dean get together, it’s our Never-Neverland. We never have to grow up.” Chantell says.

The music, the camaraderie, and the live performances all reflect that. “We’re more than a band,” Deano says, “It’s a friendship, and I think it comes through in the music. The more we record, the more we become ourselves through our music.”

Fort Never is bigger than just a band, it’s a place to be yourself. “I want people to feel like when they come to our shows it’s a safe space,” Chantell concludes. “Everyone is welcome here.”