Kay Bender and Pete Burger V formed their two-piece band “Brake Fluid” in mid-2024 and are playing across several venues in Youngstown, Ohio.
After struggling to afford her apartment at The Albion (formerly known as Campus Crossings), Bender contacted her best friend in Ohio and quickly moved across state lines to pursue her musical career.
After settling down in the area, Bender started frequenting The Underground in Warren, Ohio. During an open mic, V spotted Bender alone and offered to play steel guitar on her solo show. The two later met up at the gazebo in the Warren Square and held a public jam session.
“She had this poster that said, ‘We are all united in music’…I really resonated with that,” Burger said. “We hit it off from there, and we were hanging out, we have been good friends for a while, and we started the band in maybe two or three months.”
Bender says her creative process begins with a feeling she can’t shake and needs to express herself through writing. She begins by playing her guitar to capture her mood and add words to the melody. After piecing together her work, Bender shows V and he fills in on the drums.
“It starts with some inspiration, and it rides a wave until we figure out what feels the best and what sounds good to us,” Bender said.
Bands such as Nirvana, Local H, and Limp Bizkit have influenced Bender’s musical sound, with distortion and unique guitar sounds that surprise the audience, creating a heavier, rawer sound.
Brake Fluid went on the “Fall Extravaganza” tour in 2025, playing 11 shows across four states, including six in Ohio.
Currently, the duo is working on their untitled debut album, possibly taking title inspiration from the single “Car Parts.”
Bender says the duo has an idea of what songs will be featured on the project but are in the process of getting it produced, so it can be released in the upcoming Fall.
“[Brake Fluid] gives me a purpose… At work, I used to be angry because I just wanted to find a way to create,” Bender said. “Now that I am doing that, I go into things knowing that I belong and my music has an impact and I carry that with me knowing that it is something I will always come back to.”
Listeners can find Brake Fluid on Bandcamp, Facebook and Instagram.
To contact the features editor, email [email protected].
For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com, and follow us on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines and on X and Instagram at @mtsusidelines. Also, sign up for our weekly newsletter here.
