CRASHING WAYWARD – AN INTERVIEW WITH PETER SUMMIT
Photo Credit: Shane O’Neal at SON Studios
By Ralph Beauchamp
Peter Summit is the lead vocalist for the hard hitting Las Vegas band, Crashing Wayward. The group has just released their new single entitled “Holding For Dear Life” via Golden Robot Records. The track is off their forthcoming EP, The Fight Within. Besides Summit, Crashing Wayward is comprised of David Harris (Guitar), Carl Raether (Bass), Tucker Jones (Guitar) and Jon Gunder (Drums).
Crashing Wayward delivers a sound that fuses gritty hard rock muscle with modern melodic polish, balancing heavy, down-tuned riffs and soaring vocal hooks. Their music channels the anthemic drive of arena rock while keeping an emotional edge rooted in raw, confessional lyricism. Thick guitar layers, thunderous rhythms, and dynamic shifts between brooding verses and explosive choruses give their songs a cinematic intensity that feels both rebellious and deeply personal.
With their new single, “Holding For Dear Life”, the band sharpens that signature style into one of their most urgent statements yet. The track surges forward on pounding drums and razor-edged guitar work. It builds tension before erupting into a massive, hook-laden chorus. Lyrically, it captures the feeling of clinging to hope in the face of chaos. “Holding For Dear Life” turns vulnerability into strength through defiant, sing-along energy.
“Holding For Dear Life” showcases Crashing Wayward at their most focused and fearless. The song blends polished production with the raw spirit that defines their identity. The single not only highlights their growth as songwriters but also reinforces their place in today’s hard rock landscape. Crashing Wayward is a band unafraid to wear their scars proudly while delivering stadium-ready soundscapes that demand to be played loud.
Peter Summit was kind enough to sit with AMP for this interview.
AMP: How would you describe the core sound of Crashing Westward to someone hearing you for the first time?
PETER: Crashing Wayward at its core is pure high-energy modern hard rock. We’re reminiscent of a familiar favorite while at the same time, something undiscovered and new.
AMP: Are your songs more emotionally driven or conceptually structured?
PETER: Lyrically we teeter between both emotion and concept. We look at each body of work and song as an opportunity to say something that not only resonates with us, but whomever the listener is. We’re fortunate to have a balance of music and songs that can take someone on a journey or escape, while lyrically confessing like a diary which I think can relate to many.
AMP: Your sound blends grit with melody. How intentional is that balance?
PETER: I’m thankful you caught onto this. It was our fullest intention to bring more grit and attitude to these next songs than we had with our previous album. The attitude and grit are who we are on stage. It’s very important to us that our studio work matches our live show and performances. Melody is just something that is ingrained into the band’s DNA. We all come from very diverse backgrounds and influences, so escaping melody is just something I do not see us ever doing.
AMP: How do you keep your sound rooted in rock while still feeling modern?
PETER: I think it’s very important to keep working and evolving our craft. I never want to find contentment in what myself or this band is doing. That to me is where boredom sets in. I’m always looking to be inspired by new bands or artists that make me want to be better. Crashing Wayward is and always will be rooted in rock, but we also have some songs that have the flexibility to cross genres, still while falling under the “Rock Umbrella.”
AMP: Your new single is “Holding For Dear Life”. Can you give us a little insight into the track?
PETER: The song was written and initially demoed while we were on tour somewhere in the Midwest. It’s about romantic devotion and a dangerous obsession. Lyrically I love playing and manipulating with puns, where with this track religion plays into the devotion and obsession. We had originally planned on this being our very first song released under the rebranding of the band, when David Harris sent it over to Golden Robot Records. This is the song that got us a deal and the rest is history.
AMP: Is there a particular song that pushes you emotionally or technically every time you perform it?
PETER: There is not one song that we write or perform that we’re not emotionally invested in. At the risk of sounding cliché, vocally I cannot hold back in performance. My only job is to perform these songs and connect with the audience. Not everyone is going to like us, but I do guarantee that if you come and see one of our shows, we will likely convert you.
AMP: What do you think each member uniquely brings to the overall Crashing Wayward sound?
PETER: Touching back on everyone having different backgrounds and influences, I think that is the most important attribute we all bring to the band. There is chemistry and understanding there that just makes it work the way it does and I don’t want to mess with that.
AMP: In the studio, are you more focused on capturing energy or perfecting detail?
PETER: We’re definitely focused on capturing the raw energy above all else. We want to make sure what you hear on record is what you see and hear on stage. I would be lying to say at one time I did not strive for perfection. I would be very perplexed when a producer would complement the natural breaks in my voice. It took me some time to realize that perfection is in the imperfection. Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Mark Lanegan, Scott Weiland, Kurt Cobain, just some of the voices that allowed me to let go of hitting perfection and strive for emotional power.
AMP: How has your sound evolved since the band first started?
PETER: We’ve been non-stop writing and have continually worked on our band’s natural evolution. We’re very open to taking risks, because we truly believe in what we’re putting out right now. I’m very proud of what we accomplished in the past, but right here and where we’re going is what makes me incredibly excited.
AMP: What do you hope listeners feel after hearing your music?
PETER: I always tell David Harris I want us to sound like retro New York City meets retro Manchester because to me, the vibe and history of those two cities have brought to me in style and sound is unmatched. I hope our music does the same for others feeling the excitement I feel when writing and performing these songs.
I’m hopeful that it will make people want to leave their house and support more live music. I’m hopeful it will bring people together like it once did to the rock nightclubs of New York City and Manchester. I hope it inspires the youth to pick up instruments and start a band. I hope it brings world peace…unlikely, but we can dream of it.
AMP: What’s next for Crashing Wayward?
PETER: We have three more singles we’ll be releasing after “Holding For Dear Life” that leads to our EP release The Fight Within out this September. We also will be touring nonstop through 2026 with our next Midwest tour coming up this April 23 – May 9th.
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