It’s 2 a.m. on a Sunday, most students are either fast asleep, still up watching Netflix or socializing with friends. Ramon Garcia is back in his dorm after a 40-minute drive from Joliet following an afternoon with his former death metal band Nefarious; Garcia played bass guitar for over a year with the band.
After the breaking up of Nefarious in October 2017, Garcia was offered to play in another metal band called Molder four months later.
Between playing in bands, studying history and having a girlfriend, Garcia still seeks a balance among the three. However, he is not the only one turning to music as an outlet or escape from the demands of school, and life in general.
Music can typically be thought of as a young person’s game, and to an extent, that is true. Some of the most influential and popular artists are 25 or younger. According to a 2016 Business Insider article, artists such as Demi Lovato, Halsey, Justin Bieber and Chance the Rapper have garnered a large following on Spotify while still being very young. This puts these artists at a prime age where college-aged listeners are better able to relate to the themes explored in the artists’ music. It can also contribute to the inspiration that goes into pursuing music either as a hobby or a career.
For North Central alum Kevin Andrew Prchal, a large amount of inspiration for him came from other artists as well as his own intrinsic desire to pursue music.
“There’s an emptiness in pursuing fame — one that may never be fulfilled,” Prchal said. “My advice is to put your art above fame and create for the simple cause of leaving something behind that expresses who you are and what you believe in.”
Prchal doesn’t consider himself a professional musician and says it’s better that way as it makes songwriting and touring more genuine.
One night for Prchal, there was a decision to make between performing a concert and studying for exams the next morning. “We played the show and it went great, but I got a 32 percent on my exam,” Prchal recalls. “… for me, there was certainly a balance and I found it by only performing when school wasn’t in session.”
For students who are also artists, this balance is important if not crucial; for Morgan Powers, picking up a guitar and covering a song serves as a temporary escape from the outside world.
Photo by Rudy Ruiz
What started as writing poems before her freshman year turned into a passion for music when Powers began accompanying her words with her guitar — which she taught herself to play. This led to Powers performing in coffee shops and venues in Chicago.
“My first time performing on stage was in high school playing the ukulele and it was really scary,” Powers said. “Now I’m not too nervous.”
When not performing, Powers shares her talents online which she says is very beneficial. She uploads songs via social media and other platforms such as SoundCloud and even Spotify.
Music is something that Morgan both studies and lives out when she’s performing onstage. “I’ve met so many people online, both other artists and people who just really like what I’m putting out,” she said.
