By Kaitlyn Jasnica
Contributing Writer
Before noon on Tuesday, March 12, music filled the hallways of Saint Rose’s Hearst Center of Communications. Two days later, the same song ricocheted off the walls in the building’s television studio.
Between the Arctic has completed two recording sessions for their first music video, “Hide and Seek.” The last recording will take place Tuesday, March 26 in the Communications Center in Studio A from 9:30 until 11 a.m.
Since the Albany-based indie rock won the third annual Garage to Glory contest, one of the prizes they received was a music video filmed and edited by Saint Rose.
After winning the contest, the band has performed around 10 shows. However, they are now taking a hiatus from performing to complete the music video. By the time of the music video’s release, they plan to have their first album completed.
“We’re doing the video and CD release on the same day,” lead singer Kyle Albano said. The band hopes both are released by the end of summer.
Between the Arctic has already recorded and mixed numerous songs. Currently, they are in the process of narrowing 18 songs from their repertoire to 10 that will appear on their album.
“The album is definitely going to have some songs from Garage to Glory,” drummer Mike Hickey said. “Then we tracked some other songs from before and after the competition. It’s a collective mix of what we’ve written over a period of time.”
When the CD and music video are released, the band hopes to expand itself outside of Albany.
“We’re trying to attract as many people as we can, many different types of groups of people, maybe new fans from different colleges. It’d be awesome to play at different colleges.” guitarist Zack Ferrara said.
In the past six months, Between the Arctic has won Garage to Glory, recorded almost 20 songs, recorded part of their first music video, played at many different venues, and have done promotional photo shoots.
Despite being together for only three year, each member’s music experience has enabled them to be as successful as they are. Some members have played the same instrument throughout their career.
“I started playing guitar at nine,” guitarist Brendon Lennon said. “I started playing and didn’t stop.”
Hickey started playing in 6th grade. “I fell in love and kept playing drums until I decided to go to school and play music,” Hickey said.
The others members–Ferrara, Albano, and guitarist Greg Austin–have played multiple instruments throughout their lives.
“I started playing bass around Senior year of high school. I actually came to the music department playing the trumpet,” Austin said.
Today, the band that started their career by recorded music in a basements and living rooms cannot wait to release their songs and start touring outside of the Albany area.
“Some of these songs are from three years ago. This has been a long time in the making,” Ferrara said.
To find out more information about the band or to download some of their music, visit their facebook or reverbnation accounts.
