Even through a screen, anyone can tell that the band 80k, composed of six Colgate University students, possesses a uniquely electrifying presence. The band, formed during the 2024-2025 academic year, comprises junior lead vocalist Maxine Alpart, junior drummer Edgar Suritis, sophomore bassist Ian Van Der Merwe, junior guitarists Hugo Stickney and Ethan Aday and senior guitarist Will Rye. Their first performance last year at the Edge Cafe, which can be found on their Instagram and YouTube channel, features smiles both on the stage and in the crowd as their rock, pop and indie tunes filled the venue, creating a truly connective experience.
This invigorating environment may not only be attributed to the band’s killer musical talent but also their perfect synergy, which may be surprising given their many different interests. The members are involved in various fields of study: Alpart and Van Der Merwe are both majoring in English, Suritis is studying computer science, Aday is double majoring in international relations and Chinese and Rye is studying both physics and math. What brought the group together was their shared adoration for the outdoors. In fact, four of the six members — Aday, Alpart, Stickney and Rye — are part of Colgate’s Outdoor Education program.
“Although we aren’t an official [Outdoor Education] band, our interest in the outdoors and a shared music taste are the connecting factors for 80k,” Aday said.
Alpart echoed this sentiment.
“We came together from a shared love of jamming and wanting to bring live music back to Colgate,” Alpart said.
The band’s namesake is actually a nod to their shared passion, as well as the current college landscape they live in.
“One of our favorite wilderness areas is the Adirondacks, commonly abbreviated ‘ADK,’ which is spoken the same as 80k. Using the number version of the name references the yearly cost of tuition for attending Colgate, a grievance about how expensive a good education has become in the U.S.,” Suritis said.
So far in their career, the band has already performed at numerous events and venues, such as Queer Prom, Gate House, Earth Day Extravaganza and the Last Day of Classes (LDOC) Music Festival. When asked which performance was the most memorable, Suritis couldn’t choose, commenting that each one was memorable for its own reasons.
“Queer Prom was our first ever real performance as a band. Gate House was a smaller and more intimate event, and LDOC was almost a disaster involving rain, last minute location, schedule and equipment changes. Through it all, 80k worked to put on a show,” Suritis said.
80k has demonstrated this same determination not only in their performances but during band practice since their formation. Some of the members had prior experience performing, while some members only began playing an instrument in college. Over the past year, the band has worked tirelessly as a team to produce seamless music.
Although 80k specializes in playing rock, pop and indie songs, Aday emphasized that the band hopes to appeal to a wide audience.
“Almost anyone, regardless of background or personal interests, [can] find some community and enjoyment in our music. Even though we try to stick to a general vibe, our music truly does not stick to a certain genre,” Aday said.
As of now, many of the members are venturing beyond their musical pursuits and studying abroad. The band plans to play on campus again in the spring of 2026. Ultimately, 80k hopes to convey to their audience energy, enthusiasm and a hopeful spirit through each performance. It is safe to say they have achieved that so far.
