Students who stay close throughout their school years tend to carry on strong friendships that last, but when music is involved, there is a special kind of connection that brings people together in a range of different ways.
Louis Simpson and Tane Cullen are two Year 13 prefects at Westlake Boys High School, who have been friends since first meeting each other over their interest in a video game nine years ago, in primary school. The two have a bond unlike any other, thanks to their discovery of a shared dedication towards music, which continues to be a large part of their lives, and more importantly, their friendship.
The pair were instantly close once they stumbled upon the topic of music, which led them to find out that they were both members of the Milford Primary School orchestra, with Louis playing guitar, and Tane exploring the symphonies of the violin at the time. When they reached Year Six, they both enrolled in Takapuna Normal Intermediate School, and embarked on a new journey together. The boys quickly realised that there were so many new musical opportunities to participate in through the extra-curricular activities that the school offered their students.
Louis and Tane both auditioned for the T.N.I.S Rockband and successfully made it in during both years at intermediate. Louis was still on the guitar, while Tane had become a drummer. In Year 7, both boys were in different bands, while in Year 8 they were finally able to play together. During the 2013 smokefree bandquest, the boys were able to thrive on stage as they played with one another for the first time. They had also managed to convince Mr Watson, the bands mentor, to let them play a vigorous heavy metal song from one of their shared favourite artists at the time - Slipknot. In between takes, during practice, the two would jam out together. Everyone else liked what they heard as they were effortlessly able to play the song ‘Before I Forget’.
From messing around with the song, it was obvious that their interdependence while they played meant they knew how to make the music sound good when they performed together. They were able to bounce off of each other’s strengths and recognise how their skills worked well collectively. Louis and Tane’s love of music has been consistent throughout their friendship. Louis says: “Other friends don’t appreciate the music side of things as much. We will always share new music with each other, and our ears listen to the different instruments playing in a similar way.”
In high school, thoughts of creating their own band soon became a reality when their love for metal music drove them to find others who would be interested in playing together and covering songs from the same genre. Tane met another guitarist and, shortly after that, they all looked online for a bassist to complete the group, calling it Ivesi. From there, Louis and Tane’s friendship grew even stronger as they organised band practises, found places to play gigs, learnt each other’s musical strengths and weaknesses, and flourished off of one another’s playing abilities. The band was a highlight for the boys as they were able to take band matters into their own hands, pick all of their own songs, and play together whenever they wanted.
After Ivesi, Louis was asked to be a part of a band called Silvera, which was looking for a rhythm guitarist. Shortly after he joined, the original drummer wasn’t able to continue playing in the band. Louis rushed to recommend that Tane take the place in Silvera so they could expand their musical links together, and have another outlet to perform side by side. The connection that Louis and Tane already had through their many years of schooling, and common interest of metal music, meant that they found it very easy to adjust to the band and the parts that they would play in Silvera’s original songs. Silvera has released an EP of their own, which was recorded before Louis and Tane joined the band, but there have been a whole lot of exciting things that have happened while the two have been involved.
The members of Silvera are Matt Holden from Lynfield College, Matt Sansome from Auckland Grammar School, Tane Cullen and Louis Simpson from Westlake Boys, and Louie Campbell from all the way down at Katikati College. Despite the distance that the members cover, Silvera has been popping up all over Auckland with multiple gigs that they have booked, always finding the time to get together and practise, highlighting the strong need for music that all of these boys express.
Silvera has successfully made it into the top 10 of Rockquest’s nation-wide band competition, and they are all ecstatic about performing at nationals on the 22nd of September at Auckland Girls’ Grammar. Louis says, quite appropriately, ‘"banding is bonding”, as Silvera owes their accomplishments to the commitment that all of the members have to the band, the strength of their musical connection, and their passion towards music and effort whilst both on and off the stage.
