High schoolers with dreams of starting a band are a dime a dozen. But those with the willpower, dedication, and talent to make it a reality are much harder to come by. Meet Fariston, a band started by talented LM students. I’ve interviewed two of the band’s finest who also happen to be students here at LM: Sawyer Friedman-Olshan ’26 on the guitar and vocals and Rico Castro ’27 on his signature drums. I’ve asked these musicians and bandmates five questions about their band and work-life balance, which could be useful to anyone interested in gathering up some friends and making some music.
When asked what inspired the two to start Fariston, Friedman-Olshan describes his connection to music from a young age and how his idols nurtured his love for the craft. He admits how when he was younger, he would force himself to write songs and his songwriting has become increasingly natural and fluid as he’s gotten older. He became inspired to start Fariston this summer when he felt the urge to play the songs he’d been writing with a band. Castro’s love for music comes from a similar place, except rather than his idols being famous musicians, Castro recalls hearing his older brother (also a member of Fariston) shred guitar deep into the night, despite the disapproval of their father. As a child, Castro was always surrounded by music, as it’s a part of his family’s culture. He remarks how it was “just a matter of time before [he] met musicians as passionate as [him] who aspire to be as great as the bands who have shaped [them].”
Moving on to time management, Castro and Friedman-Olshan both haphazardly admitted that they prioritize their music over most other of their responsibilities, but have different ways of going about their commitments. Friedman-Olshan tends to focus on the task at hand, but says he always has music in the back of his mind. He’ll always focus on testing out a new riff. Castro comments that the band usually tries to schedule practices on the days where all the band members have the least interference with schoolwork, and if a change needs to be made, the band members are all very flexible and understanding. Castro explains how a common band practice time is 5-9 p.m. on a Sunday evening. Many of the band members live downtown, so even though everybody tries their best to arrive on time, they are sometimes forced to start without some members present. Castro and Friedman-Olshan both found it hard to detail a typical practice, as they can differ heavily depending on the focus of the band at the time. Sometimes, it’s writing a new song, other times is tweaking an old one. A rehearsal may even have to be extended up to an hour if the members see it fit on a given night. Friedman-Olshan admits how the band may be working on a singular song for a few weeks or even a few months, it’s difficult to say what they’re doing at a specific rehearsal. “It’s hard to give a typical week because songs usually take weeks, sometimes even multiple months to fully flesh out and we’re always going back and revising old songs to try and improve them,” said Friedman-Olshan.
A valuable character trait that Friedman-Olshan has developed during his time in Fariston is realizing that not everything has to be perfect. From his head to his guitar, sometimes a riff doesn’t sound how Friedman-Olshan meant it to. Or from the paper to the song, lyrics don’t always sound right. Learning to accept imperfection has been imperative to the success of Fariston and the future of the band. Castro comments on how managing a six-person band is tough, and he’s learned how to more effectively take other members’ input and opinions into account. Castro remarks, “Being open to suggestions, adjustments, and adapting to change are all traits that have developed thanks to practice and the experience of being part of a band.”
“I guess, just let it be natural and don’t force songs or ideas, and stay true to yourself,” advises Friedman-Olshan, when asked if he has any tips for young, aspiring artists. Castro offers the opinion that less is more, as there’s no rush to find immediate success in your music. Songmaking is a long, drawn out process, as Rome wasn’t built in a day. He also advises to make sure your personal opinions on a project don’t clash too hard with another band member’s thoughts, as conflict and anger is never the answer and will only lead to a delay in the finishing of the project. As a cling remark, Castro notes, “[Conflict], thankfully, is not the case for me. I admire all of the musicians who have helped me fulfill my dream, and they are all talented, caring people who I respect and appreciate dearly.”
Success has not come easy for Fariston, however they have persevered through the rocky times and now find themselves with increasingly more important and crowded gigs, such as their recent show at Steel City Coffeehouse and Brewery in Phoenixville, PA. They are not currently on any streaming services, but plan to be very soon. You can follow them at @faristonband on Instagram, where they announce dates and locations for upcoming shows, as well as post pictures from their shows taken by Nayan Hauser ’27 and myself. We hope any aspiring artists find wisdom in the words of these very talented musicians and we hope all readers check out Fariston, as they’re not one to miss.
