The conversation went so fast, it was hard to follow as the band members finished each other’s sentences. “By the way, in no means have we made it at all,” the drummer said as the laughter of the group around him engulfed his speech. “But people know us,” said one of the guitarists.
“Oh, oh I forgot to tell you!” the lead singer said as she turned to her band. “One time we were walking down the street in downtown Albany, and this person comes by in their car and they go…” ­– she yells – “Flow Resale!” as the drummer adds “…with the devil horns out their sunroof.”
Lead singer and Class of 2017 alumnus Mari Stenger started the band Flow Resale with Class of 2016 alumnus Dylan Ryals. After both graduates broke off from a band called Laser Wolf, they came together to create the band that is now known around the school, and even Albany, as Flow Resale.
The two took the name of Laser Wolf and reversed it to create Flow Resale. The original members of Flow Resale consisted of Mari, her younger brother and current junior Cole Stenger, and senior Jacob Stephen, who all still remain in the band. Flow Resale became a known name as talent show performances exposed their diverse sound to the people of the school. But when Mari graduated in 2017, the band began to fall apart. According to Mari, her younger brother Cole begged for the band to start up again.
“You were the reason it started back up again,” senior Ben Norman, the band’s drummer, said to Cole, “because a lot of people know that it stopped in the middle for a while after you graduated.”
Working together to create a variety of genres from their own interests, Flow Resale can’t guarantee the consistency of their style and sound. “We are kind of always changing,” Mari said. “We’ve definitely evolved from the original group. I don’t think the original group was as serious as we are now.”
Stephen, Norman, Mari and Cole, the band’s current members, plan to pursue their band professionally. Currently working on releasing several singles to Soundcloud, iTunes and eventually Spotify, Flow Resale also plans to perform at this year’s Old Skool dance in April. Flow Resale has been performing at the annual talent show for three years and performed at Spring Picnic in 2017 .
“It’s so exciting and it’s so crazy,” Stephen said about performing, “because music is what I want to do with my life, and when I get to do it in front of a bunch of people and I’m, like, actually doing what I want to do, it’s so cool and it’s not even stressful once it’s already happening.” The group nods in agreement, but Mari disagrees..
“I’ve done it for years,” she said, “and I still get nervous every single time.”
Although quick in conversation, the group’s connection was easily communicated through their casual mannerisms and passion for their shared interest.