Farmingdale band builds on Battle of the Bands win
In this age of electronic domination that is the bane of true musicianship, computers recreate the sound and feel of songs that still lack authenticity. Left only with the lingering memories of smoke-filled jazz clubs, as quaint as the dust laden LPs of the greats or survivors of Woodstock who pride themselves on having been there, the notion of music with heart and soul seems eerily antiquated. Passion without the flair, skill without show, a raw unrefined musical experience has become as rare as snow in July. We are left to revere the greats, with any real lover of music having to recall the past; the John Coltranes, Chet Bakers, and Jimi Hendrixes etched forever in music’s hall of fame.
Amidst this bleakness a band has arisen that calls to the past and embraces the future. Studio Nine is an embryo of hope. Influenced by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Radiohead, this band is anything but timid in exploring new ground. A group of teens that came together while attending Farmingdale’s School of Rock in 2010, they have since exploded unto the music scene. Shortly after releasing the Watch Me Burn EP in 2012, Studio Nine subsequently went on to win Alto Network’s Battle of the Bands this year. A music video/documentary deal is already in the works. The band is made up of Dylan Gleit, an exuberant lead guitarist who balances the innocence of a 19-year-old with the maturity and awareness of an adult. Rounding out the quintet is drummer Tom Criblez, guitarist Andrew Hanc, vocalist Samantha Fernandez and bassist Kevin Massetti, each of which are gifted musicians in their own right.
Like most bands, Studio Nine’s origins can be traced to someone’s basement. In this case, Hanc’s was transformed into a makeshift studio. As for the band name, it was ingeniously derived from 69 Narwood Rd. where the members practiced.
“We wanted to come up with a name that included and meant something to each member of the band,” explained Gleit. His lifelong love of music came from his drummer dad.
The young guitarist described his dream of performing and being on stage, which led to him picking up an instrument and never putting it down since.
While juggling band duties, Gleit is studying engineering at Duke University “just in case this band thing doesn’t work out” he said with a grin. For now, Studio Nine paints a rare antithesis, a young band possessing an ageless sound. All accomplished by incorporating the best of the past mixed with a modern flair while creating an original sound. There’s a general term musicians use—“You either have it or you don’t.” In Studio Nine’s case, they most assuredly do.
