Artist of the Week | Vassar student hits high note with album on iTunes

Thirstbusters. Haven't heard of them yet? You will soon, considering the band's smooth, jazzy sound, akin to that of John Mayer and Maroon 5, is now on the online music store iTunes. The addition of their recent album Time You Awake, to the iTunes library is especially relevant since the frontman is a Vassar student, Zach Sorgen '12.

Sorgen's musical career began in the Bay Area, which is known for producing famous musicians such as The Grateful Dead, Green Day and Third Eye Blind. But instead of following the lead of these bands, Zach and the Thirstbusters entered an entirely different genre: jazz. Combining jazz with a mixture of other genres, the band lends itself to a different kind of sound—with drums heavy in some, and others completely piano-centric.
"I love the improvisational element of jazz. Because a rhythm section is often providing backup for a soloist that is made up on the spot, we have to listen carefully to each other and try to pick up on what others are doing to know how to contribute and really be locked in," said Sorgen. "Because of this sensitivity and because the jazz chord structure is more complex, switching to pop/rock was easy."

Sorgen's inspirations for the band trace back to his childhood, during which he was surrounded by musicians. His mom is a professional singer, his dad plays the clarinet, his brother plays the saxophone and his godfather plays the guitar. Sorgen started playing the piano at age seven and honed his vocals on his own.

Despite Sorgen's intense musical background, he never considered applying to a music conservatory for college. "I wasn't sure how interested in music I was. I knew I loved it, but I wanted a liberal arts degree," said Sorgen. "I am happy to learn about other things, but I also realize that I won't fall in love with anything better than music." Thirstbusters' album has made it onto iTunes, but you won't see Sorgen walking around with a pompous air. "I don't think being a musician changes my personal relationships except that I like being friends with other musicians and being involved with music as much as possible."

True to his word, Sorgen is indeed a strong musical presence on campus. He takes classical guitar lessons, is in the Jazz Ensemble and Combo, sings a cappella with the Vassar Devils, has a role in the upcoming Drama Department production of "RENT" and is forming his own soul/R&B ensemble.

And despite the impressive breadth of his involvement at Vassar, he still wants to expand his horizons. "I want to learn about producing, recording engineering, what happens in the industry/business aspect, music law, modern culture as reflected in music. I think these are all very valuable and could be, but aren't studied at Vassar," Sorgen remarked. "I'd love to talk to anyone who wants to collaborate or discuss the music industry. I know it's changing a lot and I want to be ahead of the curve. You gotta know how to play the business side of things too!"

Sorgen will showcase his talent in the upcoming Vassar College Entertainment (ViCE) After Hours show on Dec. 10. He loves to perform his music live, but has a unique philosophy about doing so. "While I will definitely put on a show to engage the audience, I believe it's better not to pretend I'm performing," said Sorgen. "The audience can sense honesty and integrity, so if the performer acknowledges them as people, it enables a stronger connection."

Sorgen is only a sophomore, but with the significant recognition his music has already received, he is on his way to achieving greatness.

"I need and love support!" said Sorgen. "I want as many people as possible to be inspired or to feel good listening to my music."