There is something magical about playing in a live band. It only exists at a certain point when everyone is playing at once, there’s maybe a bridge or a transitional section going on in the song, and there is tension building. Suddenly, you’re hit with an urge to break the tension and continue the song, and then you do. It is moments like those that the music being played rests in YOUR hands, and you decide the outcome of the performance. To me, it feels like the whole band develops this unbreakable forcefield made of musical tension that can only be disrupted when the band decides it is time. It is these things that make playing live so unique to each individual and special for each band. This week, Battle of the Bands is happening on campus, and we will all be able to observe the magic of playing live before our very eyes.
I am looking forward to seeing the different dynamics between each band. The different melodic takes or timbres everyone prefers, and different chemistries, are going to be fun to watch. I don’t think it will be super competitive, but I am hoping to find new inspiration by seeing different creatives at work. Sometimes I will hear a song that’s so catchy that I get kind of annoyed, like come on, I should’ve written that. I am hoping to have some experiences like that this weekend.
My band, Jorts, will be performing at Battle of the Bands this weekend — I’ve been working towards this moment ever since I started attending this school. It means a lot to be able to play and put myself out there for this event. We will be playing songs I wrote that I feel very proud of. I am a very introverted person, and I have a really hard time taking credit for things that I do. I feel a lot of discomfort when I get compliments, and I have been working on being able to front my band without feeling awkward. This weekend will be a pretty big deal for me as I will finally be standing up there accepting the attention for the music I wrote without finding some excuse or distraction. There is something empowering about having a band behind you that gives you courage you wouldn’t typically have. I have definitely found more love for myself thanks to my band.
I can also say that recently I have been trapped in a terrible, awful writer’s block. When that happens to me, my entire perception of my worth gets destroyed. When I can’t write or find inspiration, I don’t know what to do. I was coming out of a few weeks where I slept all day and forgot to wake up and participate in life. My band got together, and right as practice started, I wrote a song, and we started working with it. We had one of those moments I was writing about, where you can feel the new layers added to the song as more parts come in, and there is this tension as the song builds into something new. Writing a new vocal part and hearing the harmonies, and visualizing the patterns that appear in front of me, I found inspiration again. The events of being with my band with no expectations and something new formed gave me inspiration that I haven’t been able to find.
I am really excited to showcase music that is a product of something I am proud of and creates shared inspiration amongst my peers. I am looking forward to seeing how it goes and what bands end up winning.
