What Is PULSE? The Story Behind the Music
Above all, PULSE didn’t start completely empty-handed, but we also didn’t start with much. When the club first started, Mr. Losi had just gotten the money to afford our school’s bass drums and keyboards. We were completely unknown but little did anyone know, a band of extraordinary individuals was underway.
Comp Sci High’s very own music club PULSE started back in 2023. This all began when Mr. Losi chose some students to be a part of the new music club he was creating. Or, as Mr. Losi said in an interview, “I didn’t choose them; they chose themselves.”
Originally the group had about 7 members, but some lost interest and stopped coming to rehearsal, which left PULSE with what I like to call, the core 4: Michael Robinson, Fallou Mbaye, Pryah Statom, and Kaylee Sutton.
This year PULSE did introduce some new faces. It's been really fun working with them, and I'm so thankful for this because I most likely never would interact with them otherwise. To better understand the beginning of PULSE, we interviewed Mr Losi. We asked him how he came up with the idea for PULSE and he said “I created the original concept for Pulse—a performance group built around non-traditional instruments and an unmistakably urban look and sound. I envisioned a troupe that felt raw, innovative, and alive.” This is proof that we have the ability to take ordinary objects and create beautiful rhythms that will be stuck in your head days later. Then when we asked him how he picked the members, he responded: “They’re the ones who found their way to me, drawn in by rhythm, pulled in by the beat. And once it got a hold of them, they were hooked,” showcasing our love and passion to make music and perform.
We wanted to gather some data from the inside so we sent my fellow members a survey about their real feelings for PULSE. Personally, we feel that PULSE has always been a place where the members are more than just students who make music together, they actually grow to be friends that talk outside of rehearsal. When asked if the members felt that PUSLE fostered a sense of community, 100% of them answered with yes. It's not easy – especially in this generation – to make teens feel like they belong in a community, so this data just reinforces our first claim. We also wanted to know if any of the members felt a disconnect or felt left out from the rest of the group. To our surprise we got the opposite response, with Micheal saying “The opposite actually. I feel extremely connected in part because I'm a founding member and because everyone here is understanding and unique so everybody has a vibe to bring to the club.” All PULSE members have a strong passion for music, so it was no surprise when asked what’s one thing they love about PULSE, PJ responded with “I really love the community and the vibe I get from being there. Jamming out to my heart's content with fellow musicians is amazing. Being able to share a similar vibe and rhythm.”
Before reading this did you even know Comp Sci High had a music club? If you answered no, we wouldn’t be surprised. We sent out a survey because we were curious to know how many students knew that PULSE existed. The results were that 65.2% said yes while 34.8% said no. This data shows that the majority knows about PULSE, but not all. In such a small school, we would expect everyone to know about PULSE, especially because we’ve performed at every single showcase since 2023. We also asked the people that responded to the first question, yes, how they knew about PULSE, and most of those answers said “through friends.” This information is sad to hear. Knowing the amount of effort that everyone in PULSE puts in during rehearsal and on stage, we want the group to get the attention it deserves, and not only be known by the members' friends.
Prior to PULSE, Mr.Losi took part in performing with the musical group STOMP! The group has performed a variety of shows, originating in Brighton, UK. STOMP has become the most performed show on Broadway. Bucket drumming, which Larry Wright should be recognized for influencing, was what PULSE started off with. Bucket drumming started in NYC back in the 1970s and 80s and since then has been an ongoing tradition in the world of music and culture. It is widely played in the streets all over the city and also in other states. Soon enough, we stepped up our game by using the bass drums, which originated from the Ottoman military bands and made its way across countries. The bass drums really enhanced the sounds created in the club and made the music even more enjoyable. Credit inevitably goes to Mr. Losi, who is the mastermind behind these remixes and beats that we perform. He also manages our choreography that we’ve started to implement to emit more energy on the stage.
So, what are some future plans for the club? While PULSE may seem like your average music club to some, we actually aim to be something more. Our club is supposed to be a place where we can be seriously locked in, but also still enjoy ourselves freely. With this perfect balance, we can increase the level of respect we receive during our off-campus performances. We had our first successful out-of-school performance back in the summer at the Riverside Church in Manhattan. As usual, the crowd was lifted off their feet from our amazing rhythms. We also want to start introducing more non-traditional instruments moving forward. PULSE additionally plans to keep performing at other places later on and although some of our members (including the writers of this piece) are graduating, the PULSE legacy should continue with our underclassmen in the club. I personally hope that people will also feel inspired by our club. There are for sure many hidden musical artists within these four grades and there will be in the coming years. PULSE should be a stepping stone or gateway for them to discover their true potential just like we did.
Above all, PULSE didn’t start completely empty-handed, but we also didn’t start with much. When the club first started, Mr. Losi had just gotten the money to afford our school’s bass drums and keyboards. We were completely unknown but little did anyone know, a band of extraordinary individuals was underway. Honestly, no one really thought of us as a club during our first performance and we could tell by the puzzled looks on people’s faces as we scanned the crowd with our eyes. PULSE is most definitely making progress and we see a bright future for the club ahead. Hope you guys are excited to jam out with PULSE as time passes on!