HB students take music into their own bands

Hollis Brookline High School students walk the hallways with some budding rock stars, jazz enthusiasts and all kinds of musicians who participate in their own musical projects. While it’s no secret that HB has a fantastic music program built into its education system, some students have decided to take the musical direction they want into their own hands, pursuing various genres in many ways with a host of different goals. Senior Alex Ilyadis is the founder, songwriter, guitarist and vocalist of locally recognized pop punk band They Them and Us. Citing bands such as Fall Out Boy and All Time Low as major influences, they create a catchy musical sound that will stay in your head for days, with animated vocals delivered on various teen topics, such as relationships, getting older and moving forward in life. “We just released a full-length album” on Dec. 1, Ilyadis said. “Also, we are going on tour during February break and we are talking to a few record labels.” Clearly more than just a fun hobby for They Them and Us, music is a possible career for these young men. The band members want “to get signed before we can get out of high school so we can be a full touring band,” Ilyadis said. Other members of They Them and Us are junior Derick Avard and two Nashua High North students, senior Tim Matthews and sophomore Jake Nelson. Senior Ben Michon, leader of jazz-funk combo The Funkadactyls, has an equal passion for music, but more laid-back goals for this group. “We occasionally play gigs whenever they arrive,” Michon said.