Fingers slide down metal guitar strings, the speaker hums and an electrifying riff cuts through the air before the song kicks off with a piercing scream.

This is Northwestern student band Revere’s practice session in the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha, where they rehearse and write their original punk rock music.

I got the chance to watch Revere jam out through video and to chat with the band members about their musical journeys. The band consists of vocalist McCormick fourth-year Nabil Hussaini, bassist Weinberg second-year Rohan Subramaniam, lead guitarist Weinberg second-year Zhanran Shi, drummer Weinberg second-year Veer Bathwal and rhythm guitarist McCormick second-year Daniel Killioğlu (who was not present for the interview).

The band describes their sound as a mix of rock, grunge and emo with a touch of “rebellious teen angst.” Each of them has their own taste in music ranging from ’90s-esque Nirvana to boomer rock, which brings a variety of influences into their music. “Somehow, it works,” Subramaniam says. The rock genre is dominated by white musicians, including the band members’ favorite artists like Dream Theater and Taylor Hawkins. But the predominantly Asian American band isn’t fazed.

“I don’t think race has anything to do with [music],” Shi says.

Subramaniam noted that his favorite band, Soundgarden, has an Indian American lead guitarist whose family is from Kerala, the same state of India as his family is from. Even with this connection, his interest in Soundgarden started from the music alone.

Yet, Hussaini says one of Revere’s goals is to diversify what it looks like to be a hard rock band, especially if it inspired someone to pick up an instrument.

“I remember one of my older brothers was like, ‘People like us don’t usually make music, and then I think about you,’” Hussaini says.

The formation of the band began two years ago, the summer before four of the five members even arrived at Northwestern.

Subramaniam and Killioğlu found each other on the admitted class Instagram and connected over their similar music tastes. They planned to form a band once they arrived on campus.

Their first task was to find someone for each role. Conveniently, Songwriters Association at Northwestern held a band formation night — an event where student musicians network in a speed-dating style — soon after the school year began. Subramaniam and Killioğlu found Shi and Hussaini at the event. The four immediately bonded over their love for rock.

The final member, however, found them.

“Is anyone a drummer here?” Bathwal recalled hearing from the corner of the room. He raised his hand and walked over. Lo and behold, Revere.

That year, the band went on to compete in and win the Songwriters Association’s 2022 Battle of the Bands, which was decided by audience vote. “I mean, great music taste for the audience,” Shi says.

The band has a deep admiration for music and performing, which the name Revere seems to reflect, Hussaini says. In actuality, the band name plays on the drummer’s name, “Veer.”

Although they started out performing covers, the band now has a set list with nine original songs. Subramaniam says a song usually starts with a riff or an idea on guitar from Hussaini, Killioğlu or himself. Then, the magic happens.

The five musicians get together and work piece by piece to add in each instrument. Bathwal adds a beat with drums while the guitarists work on a melody. Hussaini can craft the lyrics before or after the rest of the instruments are put together.

Hussaini’s favorite original song shows how much heart the band puts into their music.

He wrote it about an ex-girlfriend who dyed his bangs a sunset pink. From dating to friends to falling out of touch, time passed and Hussaini’s natural black hair started to peek through, leading to the song title “Black Clouds in a Pink Sky.” (My heart melted.) The two were no longer in a relationship but still friends when he heard her sing an original song with the lyrics “heavy lies the crown” at an open mic.

In a state of emotional turmoil the following weekend, he wrote “Black Clouds in a Pink Sky” from the opposite point of view. He included her same original phrase in his song.

Hussaini describes how the body of the song conveys a tone of “thank you for setting me free.” In one of the last stanzas, he writes, “There’s no kingdom to keep safe what’s hidden/No pushing this down/I’m still waiting.”

As a songwriter, Hussaini says part of his goal is to be heard. He chuckles as he describes the lyrics’ backstory to me.

“I’m actually getting myself out there. I’m not pushing anything down. I felt all the emotions of this, and I made it into lyrics that I sang,” Hussaini says. “It’s very satisfying.”

Several of Revere’s songs are about this mystery girl, who has never heard any of the songs she’s inspired. Besides songwriting, performing is what the band really loves to do.

“I get really nervous about public speaking and other public performances but not playing bass,” Subramaniam says.

With the crowds cheering and adrenaline pumping, Bathwal says the musical set passes in an instant.

“Time goes by really quickly, but it’s more about enjoying myself out there,” Bathwal says.

Shi often bursts into improvised guitar solos during their performances, hyping up the audience. He says he channels hard rock icon Ritchie Blackmore, whom he admires for his stage presence and performing style.

“He does a lot of improvising, which is really impressive because he could whip out totally different versions of the same material and different concepts at different times,” Shi says.

The band has worked with several campus organizations, including Songwriters Association and Nitesckool Productions.

“There’s lots of opportunities going around,” Shi says. “Sometimes, when you’re just too busy with work, playing with people helps you destress.”

Looking forward, the band hopes to record their nine original songs and release them as an album or EP by the end of the school year.

Until then, they’re playing gigs and writing new material.

“I think we’re doing it because we love music,” Bathwal says. “We want to have some platform where we can express ourselves.”