From Classical Violin to Hard Rock Heroine: Helena Cos on Finding Her Voice and Powering Spider Rockets Forward
“It’s pure fun, unfiltered rock — loud, bold, and ready to be cranked up. It’s the kind of album that makes you throw your fist in the air, sing at the top of your lungs, and scream with your friends. It’s made for those moments when you just want to lose yourself, feel the energy, and have a blast.”
I had the pleasure of interviewing Helena Cos. Helena, lead vocalist of the hard rock band Spider Rockets, has built a career on intensity, grit, and a firm commitment to artistic authenticity. Born and raised in Northern California’s Bay Area, Cos began her musical journey with classical roots, playing violin as a child and serving as a first violin in her school orchestra. Over time, her interests broadened to include piano and vocals, and she drew early inspiration from a range of influences, including Janis Joplin and musical theatre. That eclectic mix, equal parts rebellion and refinement, would eventually shape the distinct sonic identity of Spider Rockets.
The band was formed in New Jersey, where Cos relocated and crossed paths with guitarist Johnny Nap. The two met during an audition and, although the original collaboration didn’t pan out, they soon began writing music together. This partnership laid the groundwork for what would become Spider Rockets. Initially performing as a duo, they expanded the lineup and adopted the name Spider Rockets after legal concerns forced them to abandon their first choice, Spider Monkeys. In hindsight, they say the change worked to their advantage.
Over the years, Spider Rockets have cultivated a reputation for delivering aggressive, high-energy rock underscored by sharp musicianship and a no-apologies approach to songwriting. The band’s lineup, Cos on vocals, Nap on guitar, Dan Prestup on drums, and AJ on bass, has remained focused on delivering performances that balance technical prowess with raw emotional power. Touring alongside acts such as Puddle of Mudd, Saliva, Trapt, and Pop Evil, and performing at festivals including Vans Warped Tour and Popkomm, the band has developed a loyal following and a robust live presence.
In May 2025, Spider Rockets is set to release Dirty and Bad, the latest addition to their discography, through FireRock Music Group. Described by the label as a potential breakout album, Dirty and Bad comprises 10 tracks that blend classic hard rock elements with a modern edge. The album was recorded in two separate studios: four tracks at Soundmine Recording Studio in Pennsylvania and six at Frightbox Recording in New Jersey. The split sessions, Cos says, allowed the band to reflect mid-process and recalibrate their approach, resulting in a more cohesive and compelling final product.
Speaking about the experience, Cos likens the recording process to a physical and emotional battleground, one filled with obstacles, breakthroughs, and a relentless push for improvement. Each session, she explains, becomes a kind of trial that the band endures together. That endurance, she believes, is what brings the music to life and fuels its emotional resonance.
The lead single, also titled “Dirty and Bad,” encapsulates the spirit of the album. Cos describes it as music meant to be experienced viscerally, ideal for driving with the windows down or shouting along to with friends. The album aims for catharsis, not introspection. It reflects what Cos refers to as the band’s mission to produce rock that is not only powerful and riff-driven but also connects on a primal, communal level.
Despite the band’s strong sense of direction, Cos acknowledges the learning curve that has accompanied their growth. One of the key lessons, she says, has been the value of collaboration. Whether it’s working with producers or leaning on her bandmates, she’s come to understand the limits of going it alone. Another realization: good work takes time. From lyrics to arrangements, the songs typically evolve through a deliberate, often painstaking, process.
This iterative approach is not limited to the studio. The band applies similar care to its visual work, including music videos and album artwork, ensuring that every piece of content aligns with their identity. Cos emphasizes the importance of maintaining authenticity and resisting the temptation to imitate others. She sees each project as a continuation of their artistic trajectory, a chance to push boundaries while remaining grounded in their core sound.
Cos is also mindful of self-care, a subject she approaches with the same mix of discipline and flexibility that she brings to music. She runs regularly, logging five to six miles a day, and sets aside time for brief meditative sessions. Diet and mental health are also part of her daily calculus, though she admits the process is an ongoing challenge. The goal, she says, is not perfection but progress.
Asked about her broader aspirations, Cos points to the power of music and art to bridge divides. She believes in the capacity of creative expression to bring people together, offering common ground in a fragmented world. For her, the most meaningful outcome of their work would be to inspire unity, however fleeting or subtle.
Looking ahead, Spider Rockets continue to focus on growing their fan base and reaching new audiences. Their website and social media channels provide access to music, tour dates, and videos, acting as a hub for fans and newcomers alike. While they remain proud of their past achievements, the band sees Dirty and Bad as a defining moment, an opportunity to solidify their place in the contemporary rock landscape.
As Cos puts it, Spider Rockets are not interested in following trends. They aim to build on their own foundation, one riff, lyric, and performance at a time.
Yitzi: Helena, it’s so nice to meet you. Before we dive in deep, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share with us a story of your childhood and how you grew up?
Helena: Yitzi, it’s our pleasure to be on with you and talk about our new album. Very exciting. I grew up in Northern California, in the Bay Area. I was a studious kid, more likely to be found buried in a book or practicing scales than out partying. My first instrument was the violin, which I started in grade school and stuck with through high school, eventually becoming a first violin in the orchestra. It gave me structure and discipline when stuff at home was not so easy.
Later, I picked up piano and started exploring vocals, and that’s when things really opened up. Music became more than just notes — it became a voice. Growing up in the Bay Area, I was surrounded by this deep musical legacy. Janis Joplin was a huge influence — raw, fearless, and unapologetically herself. But on the flip side, I was also obsessed with musicals. I’d sing along to everything I could get my hands on. I didn’t care about genre — I just loved the way music made me feel like anything was possible.
Yitzi: Can you tell us the story of the band’s beginnings? How did it start, and what were some of the first big breaks?
Helena: Sure. Johnny and I started the band. I actually met him at an audition in New Jersey. I was auditioning for one of his bands. It didn’t work out, but we ended up teaming up and doing some songwriting. That turned into a duo, and then we turned the duo into Spider Rockets.
Yitzi: Can you tell us what you had in mind when you chose the name Spider Rockets?
Helena: We started with the name Spider Monkeys. We really liked it and thought it was fantastic. However, there was already a band in Florida called Spider Monkey, and they sent us a cease and desist letter. So we had to come up with something else. Johnny actually came up with the name Spider Rockets. So we started with Spider Monkeys, but it didn’t work out — and honestly, it turned out better, because we liked “rockets” even more in the end. That’s how we landed on the name.
Yitzi: Great. You probably have some amazing stories from your successful career. Can you share with our readers one or two stories that most stand out in your mind from your professional life?
Helena: Amazing stories or unbelievable stories? I think it’s fair to say that some of our best stories are the ones that are better left untold here. You know — the kind that live in the “if you know, you know” category. Let’s just say there have been some wild moments, backstage chaos, late-night adventures, and questionable decisions that probably shouldn’t see the light of day. We keep these buried for everyone’s sake. No sharing — those tales are staying locked in the vault.
Yitzi: It’s been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a funny mistake that you made when you were first starting and the lesson that you learned from it?
Helena: Hmm, that’s a good question. We’ve learned early on that rushing the process does not work for us. To me this is not so much a mistake as a lesson learned over time.
So while recording our latest album, we started by recording four songs with Dan Malsch at Soundmine Recording Studios in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The studio is incredible — huge, beautiful, with top-notch equipment everywhere. We hadn’t finished writing the whole album yet, but we wanted to get started and build some momentum. So we recorded those four songs, and we were really happy with the results. Dan was fantastic — he’s worked with Ghost and Avenged Sevenfold — just super talented.
Afterward, we had some time to reflect on how we wanted to continue with the music and recording process for the rest of the album. What we wanted to say and how we wanted to say it. Personally, I also paid close attention to the details I wanted to fine-tune both vocally and lyrically. So when we went in to record the next six songs at a smaller studio in New Jersey, we zeroed in on those things.
Splitting the album into two parts really worked to our advantage. Instead of recording everything at once and later realizing what we might have done differently, we gave ourselves room to breathe, reflect, and tweak our direction and ideas. That space made all the difference, and the final result is something we’re really proud of. So yeah, sometimes patience really does pay off — who knew?
Yitzi: So let’s talk about this new album. Please tell us about the exciting new things you’re working on, exciting new projects, and tell us why we have to listen to and buy this new album.
Helena: Our new album Dirty and Bad drops this Friday, and the title track came out a couple of weeks ago. What makes this album special? It’s pure fun, unfiltered rock — loud, bold, and ready to be cranked up. It’s the kind of album that makes you throw your fist in the air, sing at the top of your lungs, and scream with your friends. It’s made for those moments when you just want to lose yourself, feel the energy, and have a blast.
This album is all about that freedom and excitement. It’s our most fun, high-energy release yet — packed with songs that hit hard and without being too seriously intense. Every note and lyric is meant to pull you in, fire you up, and take you on one hell of a ride.
We’re in a place now where our label is supportive, and the team behind us isn’t just clocking in — they’re in the trenches with us, pushing just as hard. It finally feels like everything’s aligned. And that’s a damn good feeling.
Yitzi: What has been the most challenging project you’ve taken on so far and why?
Helena: Wow, that’s another good one, Yitzi. You’re coming up with great questions.
You know, I think each time is challenging. Every time, you want to do better than you did before. You want to level up, improve your game, and learn from what you did previously so you can move things forward in a positive direction. So in that sense, this time around has been the most challenging. Even the last lyric video was more of a challenge — we weren’t just trying to make it fun, we wanted it to feel unique and really stand out.
Each project, we’re trying to learn from past experiences and take it to a place where it’s fun but also meaningful. Not just empty, marshmallow fun. That’s what we’re aiming for every step of the way.
Every time we sit down to create, it comes in small pieces. It’s not one big thing all at once. We start with an idea — same with the videos — we start with a concept and try to build it into something. And as we build it, we’re always aware that we want to create something that means something to us, and hopefully to other people too.
We’re also very intentional about making sure it still feels like us. We’re not trying to be some other band or copy anyone else. We want it to be authentic to who we are, and at the same time, we hope it connects with others in a real way.
Yitzi: If you could take all of your music, all the sound, all your lyrics, put it in a blender and mix it up, what would be the overall message, overall energy, and overall vibe from that mixture?
Helena: At our core, we’re a rock band — loud, raw, and unapologetic. Riff-driven with a classic edge: crunchy guitars, big energy. Gritty and swaggering, a little dirty, a little dangerous. Hook-heavy and built for shouting back. Bands like AC/DC, The Who, Zeppelin, Sabbath tapped into something primal that still hits like a punch to the gut. That’s the fire we’re chasing. It’s timeless — and it inspires us to carry on the torch.
Yitzi: This is our signature question. You’ve been blessed with a lot of success. You must have learned a lot from your experiences. Can you share five things that you’ve learned now that you wish you knew when you were first starting your band?
Helena:
- I think the first thing is realizing you can’t do everything by yourself. It takes a group of people. In our case, it’s a small team, but it’s a team that works really hard and well together to achieve something. Trying to conquer the world on your own probably isn’t realistic. But if you have a strong group of people around you who believe in what you believe in, that’s what really matters.
- Number two is that it takes time to create something. Expecting to sketch out an idea and have it turn into something magnificent in five minutes — sure, that might happen once in a while for some people. For us, the initial idea might come quickly, but turning it into something real and meaningful takes time and effort.
- Third, it has to mean something to you, and then hopefully it resonates with other people too.
- The fourth thing is how important it is to have a good band. A really good, tight band around you, where everyone’s on the same page and wants the same thing.
- Finally, the real magic is in the long game — in growing over time. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes patience, setbacks, and showing up again and again.
Yitzi: Can you share the self-care routines that you use to help your body, mind, and heart thrive?
Helena: For me, it’s a constant project and ongoing work. It’s not a final destination, it’s more about finding my way along the path. I run almost every day — probably about five or six miles. I also meditate and focus on gratitude. I try to eat healthy, though I’m not always great at it. And I surround myself with good people — people who support me, challenge me, and who I can show up for in the same way.
Yitzi: This is our final aspirational question. So, Helena, because of your great work and the platform that you’ve built, you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Helena: “Doing the most good for the most people” — that’s a solid question. Art — whether it’s music, visual arts, or literature — has this undeniable power to bring people together and stir something deep. If we can add to that, create something that draws people in and makes them feel alive, that’s the kind of impact we’re after.
Yitzi: Beautiful. How can our readers purchase your music? How can they attend your concerts? How can they support you in any possible way?
Helena: Everything you need is on our website, spiderrockets.com. You’ll find all our social media links, videos, and the latest updates on upcoming tours. It’s the best way to stay connected and keep up with everything we’ve got going on. And don’t forget to sign up for our mailing list — be the first to know about new music, exclusive content, and all the latest news. Stay in the loop with us!
Yitzi: So inspiring to meet you. I wish you continued success and good health, and I hope we can do this again next year.
Helena: Oh, Yitzi, thank you so much. Those were some pretty deep questions! Thank you for connecting and for taking the time to do this.
From Classical Violin to Hard Rock Heroine: Helena Cos on Finding Her Voice and Powering Spider… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.