As the world shifts to a focus on a more modern style of music, young startup bands have become a rare sensation. However, in the midst of this tran- sition, senior Andrew Galman, along with several other musicians, started The Relative Suns, a young, local band.
“I had always had [a guitar] lying around because my parents were always like, ‘oh you should play guitar,’ since I’ve always loved music… I had never touched it and then I was really into Pink Floyd and I went through those bands like 7060 Rock and psychedelic kind of stuff and so I was like, ‘that’s a really cool guitar part, let me learn it,’ and then I learned the first one,” Galman said.
Over the course of the next few years, Galman continued to invest his time in music. Just recently, he was approached by a friend whowanted to put this dream into a reality. Despite facing hardship in the beginning, the group was able to overcome these hurdles and create their dream band.
“Three months ago, my buddy came down from [his] music school somewhere in North Carolina and was like ‘Yo, I want to play some gigs’, [and] so we all started. I got two of my other friends [and] I tried to get a bunch of stuff set up and nothing, everything always fell through…it just never goes very well,” Galman said. “So we had nothing, and then we ended up replacing the drummer with someone else. Then I got reached out to and they were like ‘Hey, I heard you’re looking for a gig to play here’ and so we played there and they went really, really well.”
Over the past several weeks, the band has had the opportunity to perform at many different gigs across the country. In addition to this, Galman picked up the reins as the band’s lead guitarist. Picking up these performance opportunities has allowed them to find their niche in the music industry.
“We typically stick around like blues and rock,” Galman said. “It’s gonna hit at a bar or a music venue around Charleston.”
For the Relative Suns, music means everything. Audra Elm, the band’s bass player, took an interest in music at a very young age.
“I originally played guitar [and] it all started with me becoming obsessed with ‘The Beatles’ when I was 11 or 12. I thought they were the coolest thing,” Elm said. “They inspired me to pick up the guitar and [now] bass is definitely my true calling.”
Whether it’s on stage or rehearsing for performances, Elm has been able to find herself through music.
“Being in a band and playing shows have definitely made me more confident. I definitely used to be scared to talk in front of people or be up in front of a big crowd and I think playing in a band has helped me get over that. It’s also been a great way to make a lot of friends and meet amazing people,” Elm said.
In pursuing a career in music, Galman and Elm have had to navigate down the narrow road of success.
“[Music] showed me how to be cooperative with others,” Galman said. “Everyone shows up at the place and has a part, so it pretty much is the same as a team sport. I had to work with others but also take the leadership, and take the reins in that way.”
Wando guitar and music theory teacher, Karin McQuade, had the opportunity to perform with The Relative Suns during a recent gig as their guest violinist.
“[Andrew] seemed really excited about the possibility of me coming to play because we did some jam sessions with me and [Mr] Driscoll,” McQuade said. “He’s been wanting to be in a band for a long time and now he has the opportunity to go perform which is exciting.”
With many of the band having just graduated high school, The Relative Suns are overall very young. McQuade sees this as a benefit.
“You just get to work out the kinks and [think] ‘I have to put myself out there,’” McQuade said. “The younger you start, the more opportunities you have to make those [mistakes] comfortably. Also just getting to practice more regularly, having an ensemble, figuring out those interpersonal skills… It’s a big group project for possibly years.”
For Galman and the rest of the band, music is everything.
“I spend pretty much all my time with music,” Galman said. “Music is a way to escape and whatnot… if you treat it like that and that’s how you see it and that’s how it helps you then yeah that’s what it is.”