Bronx band debuts Single, Nobody Knows
BY JASON COHEN
Lifelong friends Nick Pretel
and Josh Anthony never imagined
a career in music, but in
February, the newly formed indie
rock band of 1L Music released
their fi rst single “Nobody
Knows.”
The journey to becoming musicians
was not an easy one. Pretel
battled depression and it took
a while for the duo to realize this
is what they wanted to do. However,
know that their song is out
and more are on the way, they
have a positive outlook on life.
“My interest in music is not
just the feel for the notes and
the chords, but it’s the connection
with people,” Anthony explained.
“My hope is it builds a
community of people who feel
how we feel.”
Pretel and Anthony, both 25
of Parkchester, have different
stories, but both share a passion
for music. The band mates
went to school with each other
through eighth grade and became
like family to one another.
In high school they joined a
youth group and their church
choir.
“It defi nitely built up the possibility
that maybe we could
sing,” Pretel explained.
Pretel obtained his bachelor’s
in architecture from Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute, but
college was not an easy experience.
He put a lot of pressure on
himself and eventually became
depressed.
“I burnt myself out trying
to take on everything,” he explained.
“That’s when I really
shut myself away for a second
and the person I saw I didn’t
like.”
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He eventually spoke with
Anthony who helped him focus
and stay on the right path.
Anthony grew up in a household
where salsa or Marc Anthony
was always playing. He
went to CUNY, but the classroom
wasn’t for him.
So, he dropped out and went
to work in the information technology
fi eld. Having self taught
himself the keyboard Anthony
began to record beats and send
them to Pretel who would write
lyrics and sing over them.
“We were writing throughout
college for fun, not making
a living,” Anthony recalled.
“Our musician friends told us
Nick could sing.”
In 2019 the duo played some
of their songs for a friend who
had moved to Italy and she
loved it. In fact, she was so enamored
that she invited them
to play at her wedding.
Pretel and Anthony made
the trip and rocked the house
for 200 people in Milan and everyone
was dancing. Later that
year the band offi cially formed
on Sept. 5, 2019.
“It was nerve-wracking because
we had never performed
in front of anyone,” Anthony
recalled. “After that trip we’re
like we have to do this.”
Upon returning to the
United States, it was their mission
to focus on music. They
began writing songs, performing
at small venues and then
COVID-19 arrived.
But, the pandemic was a
blessing in disguise. It allowed
the young adults to write nonstop
and work with Peter Wise,
their vocal coach and producer.
With inspirations ranging
from Coldplay and Sam Smith
to Queen and Sam Cooke, 1L
Music sings about past experiences
that illicit love and emotions.
While this has all happened
in just a few short years,
the boys are on cloud nine and
are excited for the future.
“This is a dream come true
for me,” Anthony said.
Josh Anthony and Nick Pretel of 1L Music Courtesy of Andrew Parsons
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