If you’ve been following the Stevens music scene in recent months, there’s a good possibility you’ve heard of Business Radical, the Stevens sophomore-led pop rock band that is gaining popularity on campus. The Stute spoke with Meghan Slate, lead vocalist of “Biz Rad,” in order to provide students with the inside dirt on the rising band.
“Most of us are or were Music Tech students at one point,” said Slate, describing the band’s formation as a group of close friends who decided to produce music together. “I desired to establish a band, and Jack and I were close friends. I inquired, and he informed me that Jack was pals with Oscar…”
Meghan Slate, lead vocalist and bassist; Shelly Ferina, lead guitarist; Oscar Diaz, drummer; Jack Scherban, keyboardist, vocalist, and described by Slate as Biz Rad’s “jack of all trades”; David Van Hise, who plays the Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI), which contributes to the band’s distinctive sound; and Cole Spitzner, Biz Rad’s newest member and a bassist and guitarist.
Business Radical frequently emphasizes that it is a band of best friends, but Slate acknowledges the difficulty of sustaining a relatively large musical group with members who have vastly different musical preferences.
The Business Revolution is causing a paradigm shift.
“When we release music, we want every member of the band to enjoy and approve of it, which can be challenging. […] Since we are friends, it is simple to get together, but since there are so many of us, it is difficult to coordinate our schedules and find overlapping leisure time. […] Fortunately, everyone is willing to attempt something new.”
Slate concludes, “[What] can assist us with our performance the most is that we’re all friends, so when I’m up there and nervous, I just look at my friends, and it’s like we’re practicing and having fun. Hopefully, others will also see this.”
According to Slate, Biz Rad has become a regular at open mics hosted by the Audio Engineering Club (AEC) because the band enjoys the relaxed atmosphere of these events. Biz Rad made an appearance at Battle of the Bands, the competition for Stevens-original performers, more recently.
“It was incredible to perform alongside so many talented musicians at Stevens,” said Slate. When asked about upcoming performances, she alluded, “We’re looking to play off-campus for the first time, so if you follow our Instagram, you can learn more about those gigs.”
The Business Revolution is changing the game
The group’s most recent single, “Bug Bites,” became a success after it was performed at Battle of the Bands, quickly amassing over one thousand streams on Spotify upon its release. “‘Bug Bites’ took a long time to shape,” said Slate of the song’s production. Jack began it in the spring.
I recall him presenting this concept to me during the summer. I had the notion that the second verse could feature two speakers.” This song’s hook provided its vitality and dynamic quality. “It’s one of my favorite songs that we’ve created, and it’s a lot of fun.”
Students at Stevens can anticipate additional performances and new original releases from one of the most popular performers on campus. Check out “Gravity Sender” and “Bug Bites” by Business Radical now on Spotify, Apple Music, and other music streaming services.