Florence, South Carolina: 40,000 souls, railroad tracks, highways, shift work, a stopover. A hub of the Pee-Dee region, born out of railroad logic. It’s not the desert that reigns there, but the swamp. So how did five thirty-somethings come up with the crazy idea of blending Stoner heaviness, Southern Rock, and Grunge vibes into their own unique sound?

The band is a product of the typical small-town music scene. Anyone who’s ever picked up an instrument knows everyone else in some way. Demos get passed around, someone suddenly moves to the area and is looking for a band—and before you know it, five people are standing in a stuffy rehearsal space at 90°F, jamming until something clicks.

The first songs sounded like both a threat and a promise—sweet enough to draw you in, catchy enough to keep you hooked: HONEYTAR was born.

Zoe Darby doesn’t sing to please, but to confront. Her voice is dark and mature, and she lets the lyrics sink in until they become a part of you. Cody D. Briggs is the creative force behind the band. He thinks in riffs and writes most of the musical frameworks. It was also Cody who was determined to bring his love for stoner rock – from Kyuss to Fu Manchu to Red Fang- to HONEYTAR.

Kyle Powell lays the foundation for Cody’s riff-driven escapades. He also brings the electronic elements to the mix. Iris Bell provides the bass lines: warm, sometimes crashing, but always with a groove that carries the grit. Robert Mills on drums holds it all together. The band’s baby doesn’t just tag along—he pulls his bandmates deep into beats that are sometimes hypnotic.

HONEYTAR plays modern rock with heavy Stoner influences, a grungy edge and a dash of Southern Rock. Heavy riffs, real hooks, no glossy polish – no false redemption.

Their debut „You Should Have Killed Me“ is out on 19/06/2026. It’s being released on Freshmouth Records.