Jesse Hasek of alt-metal band 10 Years has served as the band’s vocalist since 2002. Ever since, Hasek has provided the powerful and clean vocals that give the band its unique and recognizable sound. The Knoxville based band consists of lead guitarist Brian Vodinh, rhythm guitarist Matt Wantland, bassist Chad Grennor and Luke Narey. In the band’s nearly two decades of existence, they have built a catalog of 10 studio albums and their first EP in 2024, Inner Darkness.
In 2005, their breakthrough album The Autumn Effect yielded the hit “Wasteland,” which went gold, reaching the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart. As the years went on, 10 Year’s songs have seen the Billboard Top 200 many times and received millions of streams. In their many years of musicianship, they have toured alongside Korn, Disturbed, Hollywood Undead, and more renowned groups.
Just a few weeks ago, 10 Years made their fifth appearance on ShipRocked, a hard rock music festival at sea where they sang alongside dozens of other rock and metal artists for cruisers. The band also just recently finished the leg of their tour that included Keith Wallen, a guitarist and vocalist for Breaking Benjamin who has been working on his solo career. Throughout the month of May, 10 Years will be joined by Salt Lake City rock band Citizen Soldier for the second half of their tour.
We got to meet Jesse Hasek and ask about his past ShipRocked memories, new music and his craziest travel stories.
What’s your perfect day in Knoxville?
I’m more of a Fall guy, so I like it a little bit colder, but not too cold. Probably around 60-ish. I would go to the skate park. I still like to skate. There’s a skate park in Fountain City that I go to a lot. I also built a shed ramp that has a half pipe in it. As for food, I’m really big on sushi, so Nama and Fin-Two. Those are great, great restaurants.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I’m in 10 Years! I don’t know, hopefully keeping the passion and creating and doing music. This is already kind of a blur of a dream.
What are your favorite past ShipRocked memories?
I remember one time we played in the atrium, and it was one of the earlier ShipRocked cruises where I was out talking constantly and being in the party with everyone, and pretty much lost my voice and felt really insecure about it. Then during the atrium show, I decided to just go full punk rock and climb everything and jump in the crowd. To this day, the people that saw that show were like, ‘That’s your best show.’ I was like, ‘Well, I could barely sing, but thank you.’ That’s what’s so great about the ship is the experience is about what you don’t expect that makes it so great.
Tell me about Inner Darkness.
So Inner Darkness is an EP that we just released, and it’s going to have a second half that’ll ultimately become an album. We’ve never done an EP before. This is a new venture for us, kind of like the trickle out or dangle the carrot. It’s just kind of a snapshot of where we’re at with ourselves in life with emotions up, down, left, right; all the things that you go through. That’s usually how I draw the inspiration for music is just where I’m at with myself. I think that’s why people relate to it, because it’s kind of a voice for your inner emotions.
Do you have a favorite story behind one of the songs?
I guess the lead track called “The Optimist” has gone through a lot of transformation. It originally sounded almost like a Red Hot Chili Peppers Cali song, and we knew it had something, but it just wasn’t there. Brian came up with all different music, kept all my vocals, all the lyrics, and just did a completely different song without telling us. We’re like, ‘uh, okay’ but it made it way better. That one was fun. You never know what’s going to happen until it’s done.
What are your plans for 2025?
We’re going to finish up some more recordings. We’ve got a bunch of songs written. We’re just trying to finish up recording them, and we have some touring. We do a couple more weeks right off the boat, and then we start up in the summertime again, touring.
Any cities you’re looking forward to going back to or things you like to do?
I mean, on tour, day in and day out, it kind of becomes a little bit of a blur and groundhog day life. I just take it a day at a time and just keep going.
What do you do in your downtime?
Again, back to the skateboard. I just hop on that thing and go venture off into the city. Or the other thing I do is I like to draw on drum heads to just kind of pass the time too.
Keith Wallen is joining you on tour. What can fans expect?
We love Keith. Keith is phenomenal. I mean, we’ve known him longer than anyone, like way back when we were unsigned and there was a rock community in the early 2000’s, in Knoxville. Keith was in a band called Copper. Brent from Shinedown is from Knoxville. A lot of people don’t know that. I think the guitar player from Weezer’s from Knoxville. There was just a thing going on back then. To see where Keith is now and his involvement with Breaking Benjamin and his solo stuff, he’s just a phenomenal musician and a great dude.
What are your must pack travel items?
Probably my Sharpie art box and my skateboard.
Craziest travel story?
Our worst travel story was getting in a bus wreck with a UPS semi. We got rear ended, but luckily everyone came out okay. That shows you how vulnerable you are living at 65 miles an hour.
We played Russia one time. I mean, that was, well — Russia. You’re not going to forget Russia. It was back when you could still go. It was incredible. Getting in and out of the borders was a little dicey. When we were leaving, their government kind of just rolled us for some money.
We had to draw cash out of the ATM in their currency to extend our visa that had expired that day because we were leaving. They said the only way they would let us go is to pay 450 in their currency per person, and it will only last till midnight. If we don’t get the money, they’re going to do it again. So, we’re like, ‘Okay, sure, we’ll do what you say. Please let us go.’
Road life is hard. Do you have any tips for staying in shape or eating healthier?
My biggest advice is just repetition. Don’t try to be a hero and make some drastic overnight life changes. Just try to do the simple things and know how your body handles it. For me, I get out and skate and do a little bit of this and that. But the other thing is just getting along with everybody on the bus, giving everybody their space and you gotta have good roommates.