Starting a band has been my biggest goal since before coming to Stevens, I’ve wanted the opportunity to start really putting myself out there. Usually, when I write music, I don’t do anything with it, and it sits in my creative junk drawer until I forget about it, but recently, I’ve met a bunch of people who are incredibly supportive, who give me the push I need to start being heard. Having people I can learn from who inspire me is exactly what I’ve needed. I didn’t think starting a band would be easy, especially in a new place, but I wrote a song a few days into school, actually about feeling alone, and shared it with some friends, expecting no response. I didn’t just get a response, I got an entire group of people inspired to form a full band. We participated in the first open mic at school a few weeks into school, and Toothcomb was born, an eight-piece indie rock band with a flute player.
As a freshman, I wasn’t expecting the music scene at Stevens to be as present as it is, but it has been a constant source of inspiration. I can speak for myself and for the band that seeing other bands is as inspiring as working with our own. Having the platform to support other people and connect with them through a love of music is as important as having your own band. The music scene is determined by all the music going on and how it interacts with itself, as well as the people who support it. I did not expect to enter the music scene as quickly as we did, but I wanted to get out there as soon as possible, and the rest of the band did, too.
Working with other people has made me incredibly inspired. I’ve started pushing myself more than ever. A band takes a lot of dedication, and we’ve all spent a lot of time at rehearsals every night working on our music. I’ve learned how to have more confidence in what I do because we all support each other. Being in a band is a really good way to build self-discipline; it takes a lot of commitment and time to make it work. We all have to talk to each other and plan practices, and we give up a lot of our time for rehearsals. For me, being a band leader isn’t new, but it feels more serious here. I’m working with people who are all incredibly talented and are willing to give up their time for the band. It’s super meaningful to me that we have such a big group of people who care about what we are doing. It also means a lot to me, as a perfectionist who never thinks what I do is enough, that so many people are inspired by what I write.
Being in a band requires the ability to listen; you have to be able to hear other people and work with them. We all respect each other and listen to what we each contribute in order for things to happen. Part of making a band work is having the drive to do it. The trait I am proudest of in myself and in the band members is the desire to take action. We are all itching to get out there and make things happen; that’s an aspect of a band that can really determine its course.
Our band, Toothcomb, like us, is young and full of potential. I get to grow with this band and with the other people in it. It’s a unique experience to share your music with people who want to hear it, and when it’s a result of all your work, you can’t be more proud. So go for it, start a band.
