Shannon Berry / Roundup
In a quiet Van Nuys neighborhood, 36 Alterations is conducting one of their rehearsals in an unassuming brick building.
Beverage bottles, magazines and cell phones, along with many other miscellaneous items, are scattered around the small studio space.
Five musicians are in place with their instruments and microphones, ready to go. Upon arriving, I was offered ear-covers to protect my ears from the booming music while the band practices their set. I took them gladly, not wanting to bust my eardrums.
Bernard Jackson, 20, is the lead vocalist; Trevan McClure, 19, is the guitarist and vocalist; Loren Piyavanich, 19, plays bass; Blaise Iacofano, 19, plays the drums; and Ofer Lavi is the lead guitarist.
Like any other band or music group, 36 Alterations started as a simple
idea.
Jokingly, McClure approached Piyavanich about starting up a band. Piyavanich agreed, and from there, the band has only grown.
McClure approached all of the band members randomly, asking whether or not they play an instrument, rap, sing, or if they just had an interest in being a part of a band.
“The rest is history,” McClure said.
The guys developed their band name as randomly as they developed their band.
McClure described the day the name came to him. He was walking down Ventura when he saw “3 – 6” on a meter and shortly after saw a store that specialized in
alterations.
“Originally it didn’t have a meaning. The name sort of stuck from there,” McClure said.
Each member has developed their own meaning for the band’s name.
“The way I see it, (we are) 36 Alterations (because) we have so many influences and we
play so many variations and genres of music,” Piyavanich mused.
As for their sound, they classify themselves as alternative, rock and hip hop.
“Let’s just say that we would be placed in rock or alternative on iTunes,” Iacofano said.
With songs titles like “Hybrid,” “Nothing Else” and “Underside,” the band is communicating a message far beyond anything ordinary.
According to Jackson, Underside is “pretty much (about) open-mindedness and consciousness. It focuses on the underside of things, the obscure. There’s always an underside to issues.”
Iacofano agreed, describing the song as being about self-awareness.
“To put (Underside) in a metaphor, you know (it’s like) when you’re at the park and you see this rock and you turn it over and there are bugs under it,” he concluded.
His explanation went over well with everyone, causing everyone to laugh because of its simplicity.
36 Alterations wants to inform people and be the catalyst for questions that need to be asked in society.
“People just need to be more aware, just about everything, the little things, the big things. That’s our main thing,” Piyavanich explained.
The band is constantly developing its music, utilizing five-hour rehearsals twice a week.
On top of being a part of 36 Alterations, they are also students. Jackson, the band’s lead vocalist, is currently in his first semester at Pierce College and is majoring in film.
Piyavanich is undecided on his major and has been at Pierce for three semesters. Iacofano is taking web design at Pierce’s neighbor, West Valley Occupational Center. McClure attends Cal State University, Northridge and is majoring in business marketing. Lavi is a former Pierce student.
Signing to a record label in the future may be a choice. However, the band’s current goal is to simply make their music.
“No one is going to pay attention until the music is actually out and people are hearing it,” Iacofano said. Jackson agreed. “Right now, it’s is all about the music.” Piyavanich overrode Bernard’s statement.
“It’s always going to be all about the music.”
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The band, 36 Alterations, stands outside of their studio in Van Nuys, CA. (Antonio Hernandez / Roundup)
