Members Of That Band Honey Perform For Students And Share Insights On Getting Started In Music
Los Angeles-based pop group That Band Honey recently visited classes in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts for the second consecutive year, performing and engaging with students about all things music.
Nils Allen “Booboo” Stewart Jr. (vocals), Nico Aranda (bass) and Davin Baltazar (guitar) answered questions and performed two unreleased songs (“Cooler” and “Heartbreak”) in the History of Rock class taught by Dr. Kim Kattari, associate professor in Performance and Visual Studies, on Sept. 3. Drummer Ryan Cook was unable to attend the campus visit.
Kattari said she was thrilled to have the band visit again because of their willingness to share their wisdom and experience with students. She hopes students were encouraged to pursue their own songwriting and performance interests.
“These are down-to-earth performers who clearly have a blast making great music with their friends, which is really inspiring and refreshing,” she said. “They humanize an industry that can sometimes feel very calculated, cold and unpersonal. I think their visit reminded students that it’s important to make art that reflects who they are and what they want to share with the world, and to have fun doing that.”
The bandmates have known each other since childhood while growing up in California. Stewart, who has also had a successful movie career (“Twilight” series, “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Descendants”), has been friends with Aranda since he was 5, and with Baltazar since he was 12.
“Music is a whole other world when you can build it with your family and friends and share it,” Stewart said. “We weren’t trying to put a band together, it just kind of fell together. It has been quite a journey. Being in a band is extremely difficult, but it is extremely fulfilling to do it with your best friends.”
Questions from students included how the band members began their training, their first concerts and their musical influences. In answering a question about the band’s songwriting process, Baltazar said they begin with guitar riffs or “mumble melodies” to get in a flow, then they write lyrics to fit the melodies.
Stewart advised students when writing a song, there needs to be a desire to make an impact.
“You really want people to feel something,” he said. “That’s why I think music is the most powerful role in all of art. Because in two minutes you could be crying, or really sad and really happy — and all of it has to do with the lyrics, melody, progression. All of it.”
Rob Hitchcock, general manager of Grand Stafford Theater, asked the band to share advice for students who want to get their start but who live in an area with limited exposure to the music industry. Aranda advised students to build their online presence.
“When it comes to your art, you are going to show them your Instagram, TikTok or your videos, and I would just capitalize on that,” he said. “Either learn how or ask people around who know how to mix and master, and then put it up on Spotify. Put some money into the promotion of the song, hit up other artists that you like and try to connect with them.”
The class appearance was one of many stops around the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts. The band members visited the Musicianship class taught by Andrea Edwards, acting program director for the Music Performance program; a Music Entrepreneurship class taught by Dr. Lynn Vartan, associate professor in Music Performance; and an Acting Fundamentals class taught by Anne Quackenbush, lecturer in Performance and Visual Studies.
They participated in a Song Creation Workshop at Grand Stafford, co-presented by the college, where they worked with students on songwriting. And they finished their visit with a free show at Grand Stafford for the monthly First Friday event.
Aranda asked the students about their musical interests and talents. He told them there is “never a time when you can’t learn an instrument,” and encouraged students to reach out.
“If any of you guys have any questions or just want advice about making music, the industry or anything, you can DM us on Instagram,” Aranda said. “We can offer advice as best we can and are happy to help out.”
