By Emily von Buttlar
Executive Features Editor Features
Apocalypse Party makes its debut at Costa, providing original and cover punk songs. Lead singer, guitarist and senior Connor Flynn originally started Apocalypse Party with guitarist senior Gannon Shea, then invited guitarist senior Rosy Travis, who then invited electric drummer senior Hannah Arvit.
“People can relate to music a lot more because they can kind of immerse themselves in it,” Travis said. “They can sing along to it and relate to it. I feel like I relate to music a lot more than I relate to other people’s art.”
According to Flynn, the name Apocalypse Party was formed from a feeling of dread he felt for this generation with the increase in global warming seeing how the apocalypse would soon happen if we didn’t do anything about it. They added party as a fun turn on the name.
“[Apocalypse Party] has really helped me express what I want to say,” Shea said. “Getting the chance to be active in music, create something and get something that I want to say out there while also being able to create something I can be proud of [is one of my favorite parts about
being in the band].”
At the end of 2021, Apocalypse Party performed at Mira Costa Art Night because art teacher Katherine Herredia was looking for performers. They also performed at the Hometown Fair in October, where they played “She” by Greenday and their original song “Spiral Child,” which they
started writing in August.
“A lot of our band is a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and some of our songs are about being neurodivergent or having ADHD,” Arvit said. “The purpose of [performing at the Hometown Fair] was really just to do performances with stuff, like LGBT students at our school [and] students at our school who are trying to showcase different cultures.”
Their songs revolve around the idea of the perspective of an individual who is neurodivergent and/or has ADHD in the school system, with the overarching theme of social issues and political problems backing their songs, according to Flynn.
“Music appealed to me, as a form of self expression, and forming the band allowed for that,” Flynn said. “I like to have freedom when I write, not overthink it, just do what sounds good.”
Although Arvit does not have a great influence on the songwriting process, they aid with adding in lyrics to make the song complete. Apocalypse Party currently has three finished songs, but many more are in the writing process, such as their upcoming song that mocks toxic masculinity.
“I wouldn’t say I am an angry person,” Shea said. “I got a lot of emotions and anger that I got to work through in me, and it helps to get that out through music.”
Although they all share a common influence of Greenday, each member has their own various influences. According to Flynn, he likes to have a revolving set of individuals that inspires him as he doesn’t like to sound the same through each song they perform.
“It’s kind of like a smorgasbord,” Avrit said. “I think each of us has our different musical influences, but the common thread is generally a punk sound.”
According to Flynn, they hope to release an EP that is a couple of songs or a full album with a collection of about 13 songs before they graduate high school. They hope to keep the band together after highschool, meeting up when they are all back in town.
“I think there is certainly value to having a tight knit sort of underground community,” Flynn said.
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