On Labor Day, six members of the AYLUS RC Rock Band gathered for our very first rehearsal, choosing “Freaks” as the opening song for our future performances.
“Freaks” was originally released in 2013 by the American surf rock/post-punk band Surf Curse on their debut album Buds. Although unnoticed at first, the track went viral on TikTok in 2021, earning millions of new listeners and eventually achieving RIAA certifications. Its mix of driving surf-rock energy and vulnerable lyrics about alienation and self-identity has made it an anthem for people who feel different yet want to be heard. We all enjoy Surf Curse’s raw and emotional style, which is why we selected this song as our starting point.
Since we were not familiar with one another, the first hour was spent introducing ourselves and showcasing our instruments. Then we split into smaller groups to practice sections of the song, before finally coming together for a first run-through. Though not perfect, the rehearsal showed great promise. Everyone was excited by the sound we created and agreed that this was a meaningful step forward.
We practiced for four hours in total, and all members left looking forward to our next rehearsal, eager to refine “Freaks” and bring its energy to the stage.
- Ryan Kan
- Molin Wang
- Xian Lin
- Qingxiao Hu
- Ziling Huang
- Yuwen Huang
