This Friday, the new band on campus Edgar Lee Island will be performing as part of lead singer Adam Goff’s senior performance. The show is titled “Microanalysis” which is the same name as their album, releasing the same day. Their flyers around campus or their little cards on tables with a QR code to their single on Spotify. The band members, Adam Goff, Race Coyle, Lucas Moyse, and Ben Bishop share a passion for music, and Goff in particular has a determination and willpower to get Edgar Lee Island off the ground. Coyle lovingly described Goff’s marketing as “gorilla warfare” and Goff acknowledges some might find it a bit annoying, but there is no denying the gaining popularity they have on campus.
In the Walker Student Center, the band members sat around chatting when Goff asked Bishop, “Do you think we’re gaining popularity on campus?”
Bishop quickly replied, “No.” He thought for a moment and added, “Maybe a little.”
Their single on Spotify currently has two hundred streams and they played recently at Café on Broadway. On campus, they played once after several schedule changes and cancelations, and Goff remarks, “We have some fans,”
Coyle chimed in, “I’ve been surprised. Even from our first little house show we had a pretty decent turn out. I’ve always been kinda surprised with how many people show up. Not complaining whatsoever.”
“I always get the fear whenever we’re setting stuff up that no one’s gonna come to this, that no one’s gonna show up.” Moyes said thoughtfully.
Goff added, “I definitely want this show [on Friday] to be as big as possible, but I’ve also contended with the idea that maybe it’s just music and theater students that have to be there. If that was the case, I would still be happy to put on a show, I’ve resolved that for myself. So long as one person has a really good show.”
“Play to the audience, no matter how big or small,” Race agreed.
Aspects which have led to their success are Goff’s clear vision, leadership, their love for music and their technical skills as well. Coyle is not a JBU student but lives and works locally in Siloam Springs for Windowpane Studios as an audio engineer. Goff and Bishop are JBU students graduating this May. The band hopes to stay together and continue working on their music after graduation, though the future is uncertain. Goff’s ideal level of success would to be at the level of Colony House and Relient K, where the band can tour, play in theatres not stadiums, and have a million streams on Spotify.
The band describes itself as alternative rock but with some occasional notes of metal and punk. Moyes explained they find some of their inspiration from metal and punk and it helps keep them from sounding flat. The band, though its members being Christian, do not describe their music as part of the Christian genre or themselves as a Christian band; rather, they are a band with Christian members.
“Not every song is gonna be like a worship song,” remarked Coyle.
Moyse added, “The album [Microanalysis] focuses around a character and their faith is part of their life, but I think you can be non-Christian and get equally as much out of this album as a Christian.”
Adam noted, “Obviously because we’re Christian that influences the worldview when we’re writing songs. So, it’s going to be a part of it.”
Microanalysis, the band’s first album, will be released digitally on all platforms on Friday and outside the concert will be a merch table for people to signup for CD’s. Merchandise is the best way to support any local band since they earn the most direct revenue from it. The album will have thirteen songs, and as mentioned its theme is very introspective and a “coming of age” narrative.
Goff explained, “The narrative is about self-discovery. It’s very much a graduation album, cus like I am about to leave into a new part of life. In the end, it’s about finding direction and comfort in my faith.”
The band came together through Goff “harnessing” the band members one by one, fueled with a deep desire to have a band, “I’ve known for a long time that I’ve wanted to do a rock show.” Goff met Moyes in the spring of 2021 at a music event on campus and liked what he heard, asked him to join. In the summer, he met Coyle and likewise asked him to join after liking what he heard. Lastly, Goff asked Bishop to join, who he knew from the music department, which he did. The newly formed band struggled to come up with their name and when asked for the meaning behind “Edgar Lee Island” Coyle replied frankly, “Absolutely nothing.”
Moyes elaborated, “Random Wikipedia article generator. That’s it.”
The band said after four rehearsals of struggling with names, coming up with things like Bunny Bridge and Four White Cis Men, they used the generator. Goff wrote the name on the board but misspelled it. Instead of the generated term “Edgerly Island” which is a real island off the coast of northern California, he wrote “Edgar Lee Island” and they all liked it.
You may be seeing more of Edgar Lee Island in the future as more opportunities open for them to perform in festivals and venues in NWA, with covid restrictions lifting. Edgar Lee Island is excited to share their music with JBU on Friday and it is the perfect opportunity to listen to them, buy a sticker, and meet them in person.