Squeezed into the tight venue of Russell Underground, the audience cheers as loud music pumps through the air. A band finishes its set while cheers erupt from the crowd. The band is Close Proximity, based in Columbia, at its largest show yet.
A year after they first formed, the band members discussed their recent performance, how they met and what it's like to be in a band.
Close Proximity is made up of USC students. It consists of five members: lead vocalist Kaily Alexandria, bassist Audrey Franken, lead guitarist Diego Zuniga, rhythm guitarist Brice Dickinson and drummer Ethan Kaye.
Alexandria, a third-year music industry studies student, said 170 people were in the audience of their show, and she was excited to perform in front of a crowd.
“It was amazing. We weren't expecting as many people that came, but it was so much fun. The crowd was insane," Alexandria said.
For Ethan Kaye, a second-year music industry studies student, it was a daunting but fun experience to play for such a large audience.
Close Proximity plays a mix of pop, R&B and rock as the band doesn’t limit itself to one genre style, Alexandria said. She said the genre depends on the audience.
Third-year biochemistry student Audrey Franken said they might even add country songs to the setlist, depending on the audience.
The group is mainly a cover band that also plays some of Alexandria's original songs. Her R&B single "Act Accordingly" was released in February and is available to listen to on all platforms.
Performing is fun for different members; for example, Kaye loves the feeling after playing a song for a crowd.
“My favorite part of performing would be when you pull off a song perfectly, especially one you were kind of nervous about … and then you play it really well, and it gets a good reaction.”
Franken said she loves being with her bandmates and getting to share her passion for music with other people. Whether she's hanging out or performing, being able to share art with other skilled and talented people is a fun experience, she said.
Alexandria said she also loves getting to see their energy feed into everybody else. She enjoys seeing the audience dance and enjoy their music, even if there isn't a huge crowd. Getting to share art with people who may not play an instrument is her favorite part, she said.
Not every band member has the same level of experience. Franken said she only had six months of bass experience when she joined the group. She was a classically trained pianist when she was 5 years old, but said she had nothing to push her during college.
Kaye has been drumming since he was 10 years old, and Alexandria has been singing and songwriting since she was 8 years old.
“It’s been a long journey to get to where I am, but I’ve loved every part of it,” Alexandria said.
Alexandria brought the band together nearly a year ago by posting on Instagram and speaking at meetings for music industry studies majors. She was looking for a group to play around Columbia and gain exposure with, Alexandria said. The other members found her through her advertisements, and the rest is history.
The band aims to practice twice a week when the members' schedules align, and they take any opportunity to perform, usually playing once or twice a month, Franken said. They have performed at locations around Columbia, such as Tin Roof.
If someone has an interest in playing an instrument, Kaye said the best way to get involved in music is to just start studying.
“Listen to your favorite bands or artists, and maybe research how they learned how to play or what their background was,” Kaye said. “Then, if you can, try your best to emulate that.”
To keep up with the band, follow @kailyalexandria on Instagram. Her solo music can be found on all streaming platforms, with a new EP releasing later this year.