Discussions at Album Club may not always begin with agreement, however, as members both praise and question an album’s lyricism and production choices, Album Club brings students together to listen closely, not just to music, but to each other, senior Freya Pederson, Album Club Board Member, said.
Members gather for student-led discussions every Friday morning, centered around a different album that members had voted on via QR code previously that week, senior Vahan Harabetian, Album Club Board Member, said. Meetings begin with a short presentation introducing the album–explaining its genre, artist, influences, and more–before opening the floor for discussion, prioritizing a relaxed, low-pressure atmosphere. The discussion is led by the three board members: sophomore Simon Knight, Pederson and Harabetian.
“Album Club is a very calm environment,” Harabetian said. “People can come in whenever they want, listen to music, and join the discussion.”
The board researches artists’ backgrounds, creates discussion questions, and selects album options for future votes, Pederson explained. While the structure of Album Club has remained consistent since its founding in 2021, student leadership has introduced new activities to increase participation and expand the club’s reach, Harabetian said.
“The biggest change this year was organizing a field trip,” Harabetian said. “After listening to a Bruce Springsteen album together, we went to watch a Bruce Springsteen movie. Experiencing music together outside of school really brought everyone closer.”
The welcoming atmosphere of the club community makes joining easy, even partway through the year, junior Maya Tosa, Album Club member said.
“I was intimidated that joining late would make it harder for me to understand most of the club, but it didn’t feel any different than if I attended the first meeting,” Tosa said. “The board members always encourage everyone to share their honest thoughts.”
Album Club has evolved from a small group into a broader, and growing, community of students who may not otherwise interact, Harabetian said.
“There are a lot of different people who do not know each other discussing the music,” Harabetian said. “We are all listening to the same lyrics and instrumentals, but share different experiences with it.”
