Alternating tracks

My nightmares often feature the three-note opener from Piano Time Classics drilled into my head.

Just like many of my Asian friends, I was forced to play a classical instrument. My dad’s justification was that he never had the chance when he was little, so now he was giving me the opportunity. I grew to vehemently hate the black and white keys that plagued my Saturday mornings. Eventually, my complaints yielded a bittersweet ending: I no longer had to endure piano, and was enrolled in afterschool Kumon classes instead.

Although my journey with instruments didn’t pan out, Weinberg second-years Hailey Kim and Maya Raman found that their parents’ affinities for classical music introduced them to lifelong passions.

At 3 years old, Kim kick-started her musical career with both piano and violin. After elementary school, her dad introduced her to the drums. She was motivated to pick up a pair of drumsticks when she noticed a lack of girls her age playing the instrument. Kim says becoming a drummer heavily shaped her identity.

“It made me find my personality as someone who is a little bit different,” Kim says. “Drums gave me a strong sense of who I am and what I want to pursue, in terms of how I appear to others and what I enjoy doing.”

Now, eight years later, Kim performs with her band, Inertia. She started the four-member student band with bassist and fellow Weinberg second-year Cameron Crawford during their first-year Fall Quarter. Shortly after its formation, the group won Battle of the Bands and landed a spot on the biggest stage on campus.

“After performing at Dillo Day, we had a gig every week,” Kim says. “We just kept going and didn’t have time to slow down.”

Raman, the band’s guitarist, was also enrolled in piano lessons starting at age 3. When she was 14 years old, she no longer felt the same enthusiasm for the instrument, she says. Inspired by her love for indie rock, Raman took advantage of the extra time she had during the pandemic and taught herself how to play both the electric and acoustic guitars.

“I think connecting more to my music taste and playing what I liked fulfilled me a lot more in terms of a creative outlet,” Raman says.

While Raman is immensely passionate about music, she keeps her love for guitar separate from her educational pursuits.

“The whole reason I picked up my guitar was so I could have a creative outlet that was separate from anything academic, because being pre-med starts to consume your entire life,” Raman says. “That distinction was really important for me.”

When creating music for Inertia, Raman says she channels the emotions she feels when listening to artists she loves, specifically indie singer-songwriters Soccer Mommy and Snail Mail.

“Something I take inspiration from is that [indie rock artists] are so good at painting a picture with their lyrics,” Raman says. “The way they convey their emotions and soulfulness through their lyrics and in their music, I resonate with so much more.”

Similarly, Kim draws inspiration from the indie music scene in South Korea. After attending a concert in Chicago by SE SO NEON, a Korean indie rock band, Kim says she was pleasantly surprised by the energy of the audience.

“I was really proud because they were singing in Korean, but everyone in the crowd was singing along,” she says. “That sense of pride is something I want to bring to my own music. I can attach that to who I am, like an extension of my Korean identity.”

Now, the band is focused on making original music and producing its own album. In the future, both Kim and Raman hope to play in a small concert venue in Chicago and continue to grow the band’s repertoire.

So, if you find yourself in a rut with your classical instrument, take this as a sign to deviate from traditional expectations and explore new musical genres. Just don’t blame me if you find yourself doing Kumon practice problems instead.

Two classical musicians follow the beat of their own drum.

STORY BY REBECCA WANG

DESIGN BY HANA AKAKURA