When Particles Collide
"Every reaction reacts in mole ratio!" science instructor Sasha Alcott shouts on
the stage of iGEM Giant Jamboree 2014 as drummer Chris Viner crashes the high hats. The reverberations of the distorted Gibson Flying V and the beat of the bass drum shake the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, and a crowd of 700 undergraduate students rock to the dynamic rhythm, rock horns sticking upwards. This is When Particles Collide, an active rock duo that successfully merges "Southern rock choruses, New Wave a la Blondie vocals, lightning speed Green Day-esque drumming, classic Motown grooves and Queens of the Stone Age-style riffs" into a unique, original sound.
The successful duo began its musical career a few years ago, when in 2010, Alcott and Viner met in Bangor, Maine during a local production of the musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." Six months after the production, the two created the band, and three years after the creation of the band, the two got married.
Since the formation of the band, it has been touring the U.S. extensively. From 2012 to 2014, the duo completed 70 to 95 shows per year. In 2013, Alcott was appointed as a chemistry instructor of the Academy, but that did not hinder the duo from keeping their musical fire burning: this past summer, Alcott and Viner completed "a marathon eight week, coast to coast tour of the entire U.S.," according to the band’s official website.
The duo has produced five sets of recordings so far, including a five song EP as well as their most recent recording which was released June 2014, on CD and in limited edition. Some of the duo’s most popular songs are "Ego," "Moles" and "Constant Disaster."
Regarding the songs and the songwriting process, Alcott explained how the band constructs songs.
"Most of the songs lyrically come from personal experience or looking at my friends undergoing an experience, and writing it in their perspectives. Usually they are like personal narratives. That’s primarily how I get my inspirations for lyrics," Alcott said.
Musically, Alcott explained that the duo’s style has been evolving constantly.
"It’s changed a lot over the years since I met Mr. Viner, who is a very accomplished drummer. In recent years, especially in the last two recordings we did, I tried to write more songs that I knew he’ll enjoy playing drums to—rhythmically or in the changes of the song—so that he’ll have a lot to contribute drum-wise, because as a duo, the drums are crucial," Alcott said.
Although the band does not face any challenges in songwriting or in the studio, Alcott noted that as a duo, performing requires a lot of work. She emphasized, however, that she enjoys the hard work she needs to put in in order to organize performances and added that she prefers being a duo rather than a larger, more traditional rock band.
"I don’t feel restricted in the studio, because we feel free to bring in various instruments for different songs like organs for ‘Ego,’ saxophone for ‘Photoelectric,’ flute on the last song in ‘Ego’ and bass guitar in all of the songs. I have everything I want in the studio," Alcott said. "I would love to have a fuller band, because with the two of us the pressure is really on us to get the songs right. But a duo keeps the songwriting at the forefront. Also, it’s really easy for us to tour."
Oftentimes, there are other challenges that the band faces. For example, Alcott teaches chemistry full time and works as a dorm faculty at Hoyt Hall. Yet, the band has been actively performing, regardless of those hindrances.
Furthermore, Alcott said that her and Viner’s undying fervor for music and sharing music motivate them to prepare all shows and write all songs with dedication and joy.
"Music is a way to experience joy. Music can evoke and help you to understand any emotion, whether it’s fear, anger, anxiety, or happiness."
"Music is a way to experience joy. Music can evoke and help you to understand any emotion, whether it’s fear, anger, anxiety, or happiness. But in the process of creating or experiencing music, I think it helps us to understand our emotions and experience them in a different way and process our emotional landscape and beings in a very visceral way," Alcott said.
Alcott said that listening to and creating music is an effective means of cathartically getting through emotions. She said that regardless of the feel of the songs she performs, when she finishes the song, she "always feels joyful." Alcott added that she hopes the band’s music enables every member of the audience of every show "to feel mini-catharsis and feel joyful."
"And that’s why [we] do music," Alcott conclude