Oct
17
2007
Republic of Letters is a San Diego based indie rock band that performed at the UCSB Lagoon at noon on Tuesday, October 9, 2007. Jennifer Seoung and I interviewed the band at Java Jones Coffeehouse after their performance. The four-piece group has been together for only one year, but brothers Chris and Nick Venti originally formed the group back in 2004. They are promoting their new 2007 EP, “Spirit or a Ghost,” on their tour of California at colleges and other small venues. The band is even considering a national or international tour (some fanbases in Iceland and Spain).
All four of the band members had different experiences with college, and very different thoughts as to whether a college education was worth anything to a touring rock musician.
Drummer Nick Venti believed that college was a valuable experience. As a History major at Cal State Long Beach, Nick felt that he learned something that interested him and that he also picked up business skills and people skills that he uses everyday in the politics of the band. He also learned from college that he didn’t want a “regular” job like most people, and that becoming a musician would fulfill this want, but at the same time be a tough choice because he wouldn’t be able to have the financial security or general stability that comes along with most “regular” jobs. also studied abroad in Italy while in college, and the experience gave him a new perspective on life in the U.S.
In a similar vein, front man and rhythm guitarist Chris Venti believed his college education didn’t have a direct affect on his musical performance, but rather was an experience that nonetheless was valuable to him. It taught him to persevere and accomplish something that at many times seemed to be unrelated to his true passion, or muddled in the “bureaucracy of college”. As a Fine Art major at SDSU, Chris studied many forms of art that were hardly musical. Painting, photography and similar artistic mediums were the focus of his study, and while these did not pertain directly to music, Chris could see the same creative forces in these mediums that are also present in the music he composes and performs, and could thus relate what he was learning to his passion of music.
In complete contrast to the first two responses, lead guitarist Adrian Thortensen believes that college is unnecessary to a college musician, and does nothing to develop musical talent or perform rock music. Adrian has played guitar for 14 years, and is a college drop-out, who originally was studying to become a stockbroker like his grandfather. He knew his path was music performance oriented, and that jumping right into the music scene without a college education was the best thing for him to do. Even without a college education, Adrian is intelligent and well read, (evidenced by his reading suggestions of “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho and “Ishamel,” by Daniel Quinn), and also is a former member of the environmentalist group, “Sierra Club”.
Bassist Martin Niwinski was the last to speak from the group, and remained neutral on the topic of college education in rock music. He completed a general education, but never earned a specific degree in a college or university. However, Martin did elaborate on the topic of drug use in the music scene today.
Like the rest of the band, Martin does not use drugs onstage or during practice. The band firmly believes in “organic” creation of music without the use of substances, at least until they make it big and have more money than they know what to do with, and “then the black tar heroin happens,” said Martin. Sober gigging ensures longevity and thus the ability to play more music in a lifetime. Sober practice makes the musician independent of substances for creativity, and onstage sober performance ensures a better presence and higher quality tour. They complimented big name groups like Radiohead who practice yoga and meditation before performances, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers who are health conscious, and nourish themselves with special, healthy juice drinks that allow them outperform other groups.
The band members ended the interview parting with some words of wisdom. They truly believe that to be successful you need to work hard, stay focused and committed, and do what you’re passionate about, and that this band and tour is really a group of four individuals who
are doing just that. “Do not be wallpaper music, be authentic.”