What do the resumes of Bruce Springsteen, all four members of U2 and Britney Spears have in common? None include any sort of four-year degree.
Obviously, a college degree is not the required ingredient to success in the world of popular music that it is in almost every other industry. In fact, in today’s ultra-competitive music scene, time spent attending college may even hinder success because higher education squanders portions of aspiring musicians’ precious youths.
Spencer Pforsich and Brandon Stewart, both of whom are UCSD students and lead singers/guitarists of up-and-coming bands, are exceptions to this increasingly strict rule of popular musical success.
For freshman Brandon Stewart, who came to UCSD because of the strong local music scene and because he wanted to continue challenging himself academically, finding time for school and his punk band, Driven, is an absolute necessity. Although Stewart is the only member of his four-person band attending school away from the band’s home in Valencia, Calif., Stewart finds time to make the two-hour trip back home whenever possible to take care of band business.
As a testament to his hard work, Driven managed to play six shows last quarter and four so far this quarter to audiences ranging from 20 to 300 people. Nearly all of the shows are in the Los Angeles. area at venues such as the Roxy and the Whisky-A-Go-Go, although Stewart is trying to set up some dates in the San Diego area to satisfy the group’s growing fan base at UCSD.
Moreover, Stewart is “”very happy”” with his academic performance so far.
In the words of Stewart, “”I love it so much, and the band is so tight as buddies, I make it work.””
Spencer Pforsich, a sophomore writing major, also found a happy balance between his musical and academic goals.
Without a doubt, Pforsich’s band, Straight No Chaser, an “”emo-pop”” threesome that plays both locally and on campus, is where Pforsich’s dreams lie. Ironically, Pforsich hopes that one day “”music and school will [indeed] conflict,”” and he will be able to play music for a living. After all, “”school can wait,”” he proclaims.
But for now, Pforsich realizes that school is necessary, if nothing else, for the help it gives him in the creative process. Pforsich, the songwriter of the band, finds that his studies in poetry aid his songwriting by helping him “”communicate emotions through music.””
Stewart summed up the daily struggle of student musicians such as himself and Pforisich: “”You have to be dedicated. I mean, that is why we call ourselves ‘Driven’: because we are so driven.””
Look to http://www.drivenmusic.org for Driven information and show dates. The band is planning a tour this summer. Straight No Chaser and its upcoming show dates and times can be found at http://www.sncband.com
