THE BAND:

At the core of Spookie are Jake Smith (vocals/bass) and Tyler Hodgett (guitar/vocals)—lifelong best friends from West Chicago who started jamming at 12 and never really stopped. After years of bouncing around the Midwest in different bands, playing weird gigs, and making loud memories, both ended up in Nashville, working on separate projects—until the timing felt right, and Spookie came to life. The missing piece was drummer Nate Marken, whose smooth grooves and locked-in energy pulled it all together. With Nate behind the kit, the band finally sounded like what they’d always heard in their heads—raw, real, and just the right amount of unhinged. Some songs on this project were written ten years ago, some just ten days ago—but every track comes from an honest place. And we couldn’t be more stoked to share it with you. Stay loud. Stay weird. Stay Spookie.

The Members

Jake Smith is a multi-instrumentalist from West Chicago who performs and writes for various artists—which is actually where the term “Spookie” was born, inspired by his desire to ghostwrite. Both of Jake’s grandparents are established musicians, and his father was a DJ for nearly three decades, so it’s safe to say music is in his blood. He chose to play bass after being completely shown up by Tyler on guitar when they were twelve. Jake asked, “What’s the easiest instrument to play?” Tyler handed him a bass—and he hasn’t put it down since. Jake’s a sucker for loud music and crowdsurfing, which is why live shows are his absolute favorite—whether he’s performing or in the crowd.

Tyler “Thog” Hodgett is a heart-on-his-sleeve songwriter and frontman for multiple projects, also from West Chicago. He’s been playing guitar since he was eight and is freakishly smart both on and off stage. His folky fingerpicking style mixed with high-energy indie rock creates a sound that’s rowdy, fun, and still full of heart. Whether he’s throwing guitars across the stage or jumping into the crowd for a solo, there’s not much Ty Guy hasn’t done during a set—and he’s not slowing down anytime soon.

Nate “Juicebox” Marken is a silky-smooth drummer from somewhere in Colorado. Nate’s a bit of a mystery, but one thing’s clear—he is the vibe. You’ll usually find him smiling behind the kit, locking in the groove for Spookie and various other artists across the U.S. It’s scientifically proven that Nate has a superpower: his beats get people moving, no matter the vibe or venue. We’ve even tried to convince him to wear a cape because, honestly, he’s just that magical.