Illustration by Hanz Pacheco
Story updated Sept. 23.
Successful bands are often known for their undeniable chemistry and ricochet-like energy. For local ska band Voluntary Hazing, they’re finding a way to keep their magnetism alive by navigating a new reality of online rehearsals.
According to music education website Musical U, ska is a genre of music that combines both jazz and blues with a Jamaican folk flare. The 12-member group composed of San Jose State students and alumni, performs renditions of songs from artists like Elton John and Panic! at the Disco in addition to producing original music.
The band is divided into three groups: vocals, rhythm and brass. Rhythm members play instruments like drums and bass, while brass members perform with either trumpets or saxophones.
But with so many members, it’s hard to designate a time and day to practice together, Thomas Narveson, a saxophone player and former SJSU student, said over the phone.
“Working with the members of Voluntary Hazing is like working on a group project,” Narveson said. “Except there’s 12 of you and everyone has to do a specific thing all the time.”
Prior to shelter-in-place mandates, the band performed live gigs almost every month at Downtown San Jose music venues. So far, the band has performed at places like Art Boutiki Music Hall and the SJSU Hammer Theatre Center.
But now that most venues are closed, the band has participated in livestream concerts, most recently a remote Relay For Life fundraiser raising money for cancer research.
In order to play livestream gigs, each member has to use a camera to record their own instrumental part at home. The clips are then compiled and made into a video by Kayla Renelle, a 2020 SJSU public relations alumna and the band’s only vocalist.
“It’s a very weird time to be making music, but we definitely don’t want to stop and lose the momentum we have going,” Renelle said over the phone.
Despite the band’s large group size and remote meetings, the members said they have maintained their chemistry with one another.
Vincent Jurado, a 2020 SJSU music education alumnus and the band’s other trumpet player, describes the band’s bond as “tight.” He said the members have group chats and they message each other every day with cover song suggestions and life updates.
We all feel for each other, we all support each other,” Jurado said over the phone. “There’s no drama, it’s mostly just memes and musical ideas.”
Voluntary Hazing fans said they notice the band’s dedication to one another and to their music.
SJSU photography senior Meredith Williams discovered the band through her friend Nicholas Johnson, who is the keyboardist for the band. Williams attended multiple live and remote shows the band took part in this year. She said she admires how passionate the band members are when playing their music.
“The gigs they do are super wonderful and warm people’s hearts,” Williams said over the phone. “I really hope COVID-19 ends soon and they can do live performances again. [When they do], I will be right there with my camera.”
Before calling themselves Voluntary Hazing, the band’s name was SJSU Ska Ensemble. The ensemble was founded in Fall 2018 by Thomas Narveson, guitarist and music education senior Gabe Perez and drummer Alex Quick.
The trio formed the group as a way to share ska music and history with their friends from the Spartan Marching Band. Any SJSU student could join the ensemble’s weekly meetings in the music department. The ensemble didn’t advertise its meet ups, but people heard about the band through word-of-mouth.
Occasionally, the ensemble would sign up to play at the SJSU music department’s open mic nights and listening hour series. Prior to remote learning, Listening hour was an opportunity for music and dance students to perform in front of their peers for course credit.
Despite having weekly meetings on campus, they were never registered as an official SJSU club. Narveson said he didn’t want to fill out the required paperwork and procedures that came with registering a club.
Renelle said the members renamed the band in Spring 2019. The group’s members wanted to perform off-campus gigs and changed the band name so they wouldn’t be mistaken for an
SJSU club.
Perez said the January release of the band’s first album “Crossroads’’ is one of their biggest accomplishments. All five tracks on the album were written, recorded and produced by the band members.
Once shelter-in-place mandates are lifted, Narveson said he hopes the band can perform their songs from “Crossroads” in person and onstage again.
“There’s just something about playing with a bunch of people who are doing the same dance and we’re all doing the same thing,” Narveson said. “It’s just a good time.”