By Alexandra Mier y Terán
Calendar Editor
From jazz to electronic dance music, Costa sophomore Jane Fishman, senior Jon Sullivan and Vistamar junior Noah Viklund cover any song they feel like jamming to or composing.
The students met through Young Musicians Performance Academy and at a summer program through the Berklee College of Music in Boston. The three musicians joined forces to create their newest artistic endeavour, 40oz. of Freedom, named after the song by Sublime.
“We had some failed attempts at getting a consistent group together, so Noah suggested a duo where we could bring in other musicians for each gig,” Fishman said. “We brought in Jon for our first performance, and we all worked so well together that we became a trio.”
Fishman has always had a passion for music and is a member of Mira Costa’s Advanced Women’s Chorale. She sings lead vocals alongside Sullivan on the piano while Viklund alternates between the ukulele and guitar.
“For me, playing piano is like going to a whole different world,” Sullivan said. “When you’re in a group and everyone is on the same wavelength when you’re playing a tune, the feeling is unlike anything else.”
The trio describes its sound as eclectic with a laid-back, beachy feel. They try to keep their music interesting and unique by mixing up sounds and adding their own personal touches.
“We like to take well-known songs and change them up so when our audience hears them, it’s refreshing and different,” Fishman said. “We know we’re doing something right when we start jamming and just can’t stop smiling. It just feels right.”
With local performances under their belts, like the Manhattan Beach Pier Lighting that took place on Nov. 19, 40oz. of Freedom has high aspirations and hopes to land more high-profile gigs. They want to earn a spot at the International Surf Festival in July 2015 and other local festivals to reach a wider audience.
“We are doing a lot of gigs now,” Viklund said. “I would really just like for us to stay on the path that we are on and keep getting exposure.”
Although the trio agrees that it would take a lot of effort to put together an album of its own, the members hope to do so in the near future. The three agree that it would be an album of original music which would be a new endeavor for the group.
“It’s just a matter of us all sitting down and staying focused long enough to finish a project like that,” Fishman said. “I’m beyond lucky to be able to play with musicians as good as these guys, and I really hope we can work on some kind of recording.”
The trio has created an Instagram account, 4OFMusic, to keep fans aware of upcoming performance dates along with new information regarding the band’s recorded music.
“To anyone checking out our music, or to fans wherever they are, I would say thank you, and know that even the smallest amount of support helps,” Sullivan said. “I can’t tell you how great it feels to see people come by and hang out, or people we know come and support us when we play.”
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