UMD Band Harmonic Blue Spans From Local Performances to Baltimore

They say there are several things you are supposed to get out of college: an education, great friends and a better understanding of who you are and what you love. But if you are the members of Harmonic Blue, a local music group, you can add a band to the list.
 
The name “Harmonic Blue” came in a dream from lead vocalist Zach Field. The group began in 2011 when they added their fourth member and drummer Sam Balcom. The band is comprised of Balcom and Field as well as lead guitarist Anthony Ajluni and base player Gabe Bustos.
 
Ajluni, Bustos, and Field are all current senior business majors here at the University of Maryland, but Balcom studies at Towson University as an English and music major.

 
“We pretty much rehearse with him once a week,” Ajluni said. “When you show up it’s time to rehearse.”
 
The band has played in various places such as the Maryland Food Co-op and The Barking Dog in College Park, as well as Otto Bar and the Recher Theatre in Baltimore, Md., but they didn’t start out that way.
 
“Zach and I did talent shows, a sorority charity event and a business school cook out, but it was all acoustic,” Bustos said.
 
The band currently writes their music together, which is more specialized and collaborative with members each writing a part. In their opinion, although it can be a challenge, it makes for better music.
 
“A lot of times we will spend a lot of time arguing, but at the end of the day the song will be better,” Ajluni said.

Photo credit to Lauren Phifer

Harmonic Blue’s music can be described as a rock band with a lot of non-rock influences such as the jazz, blues, and the older realm of pop music.
 
“Harmonic Blue has four very strong personalities and each personality represents a different genre coming to the table,” Ajluni said.
 
“I think that style really helps them stand out from most other college bands you’ll find playing around here,” Marc Karlinsky, senior government and politics and communications major and fan of the band, said.
 
The band is currently all on the same page when it comes to pursuing a career in music. For the guys it’s all about the passion of making music and sustaining a life doing that.

 
“I do have other academic interests that I do want to pursue; at the same time this band is my priority right now in my life,” Field said.
 
It’s no secret that being in a band is tough especially with a band mate miles away, writing music, rehearsals, shows and then add school on top of that, but for Harmonic Blue it’s all about time management, commitment and sacrifices.
 
“When you are working collaboratively on something creatively like music you have to make sacrifices especially of your own control and vision and expression, but at the potential gain of achieving something that you would have never been able to achieve on your own,” Bustos said.
 
You can purchase Harmonic Blue’s CD in the Stamp Co-op or download their music for free and find out more information about the band at www.facebook.com/HarmonicBlue.
 
Remember to keep a look out for live shows in the spring semester and their EP (extended play) coming out spring 2012.