By Kareena Dhillon
Staff Writer
What started as three friends playing covers of bands inspired Mira Costa senior Asha Burke to form her own band this year and perform around the South Bay.
Senior Burke, senior Alexa Alfano, and freshman Bradford Michela started the band, Ghost Dad, in February. Burke had the idea of starting a band and when she met Michela the pieces came together. The band is a way for the girls to express their love of music and enjoy the freedoms of managing their own band.
Take a look at photos of Ghost Dad performing!
“I think just the three of us love music,” Michela said. “We are looking for the experience of playing in a band where everyone has input. It’s a completely different experience playing with other people than by yourself. I’m loving being able to write and learn songs with friends of mine.”
Alfano and Burke are in the same English class and when Burke approached Alfano about drumming, Ghost Dad was created shortly thereafter. Burke also knew Michela and dreams became reality as the band was formed. It was all spontaneous according to Alfano.
A video of Ghost Dad, with members (from left) Michela, Burke, and Alfano, performing at the Manhattan Beach Annual Arts Show on March 27th. The band plays covers of Mac DeMarco songs and is in the process of creating their own music.
“I made a band because I love playing music,” Burke said. “I love the connection I feel to people I play music with. It’s such an intimate and just plain fun process. Wires and amps all over the floor, creating noise and art in the moment is just beautiful.”
Ghost Dad practices at least once a week at Alfano’s house. All bandmates have been involved with music for years and know how to play different instruments, however Burke usually sings and plays rhythm guitar, Alfano is on the drums and Michela plays lead guitar. They stick to pop songs, performing music by artists such as Mac DeMarco.
“It makes sense that we play the instruments we do, it fits easily because we all know what we’re doing,” Michela said. “We all prefer those instruments because they are the basics to a band so that’s why we play them.”
Look at NYU’s website to learn more about their music program.
The name Ghost Dad was inspired from William Shakespeare’s play, Tragedy of Hamlet. Hamlet’s father returns to him as a ghost, which led to the name Ghost Dad. Alfano and Burke read this play together, which allowed them to take their shared passion and turn it into something more.
“Ghost Dad fell into place really easily,” Burke said. “We all love similar types of music and I had known both of them and we talked about being in a band together, so when we first jammed everything clicked.”
Visit the University of Puget Sound’s website for more information.
Currently, they play song covers but are writing originals to be released in the near future. Ghost Dad performed at the Manhattan Beach Annual Art Show in March and have been performing at InHouse Arts, where students perform songs and poetry for each other. They plan on playing in small venues before the end of summer.
“I am planning on studying music in college,” Michela said. “I feel like just as long as I’m somewhere in the music industry when I get older, I will have a job that I look forward to everyday.”
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