Before graduating high school, many seniors struggle to determine what to pursue leading to varying diverse graduates. But for AHS alumni Desmond Fitzgerald, music was always a present figure in his life at a young age, affecting his pathway to Middle Tennessee State University.
Now, Fitzgerald, 20 years old, is majoring in commercial songwriting while minoring in mass communications and nourishing his artistic nature in the band, LUNCHROOM!
His passion for music first began to sprout in fourth grade, when he first started involving himself in chorus. Afterwards he continued finding himself actively being involved in chorus through his time in Glasgow MS until his senior year at AHS.
Back in high school, Fitzgerald was heavily inspired by certain artists such as My Bloody Valentine and Death Grips. Being knowledgeable in various artist’s discography, naturally Fitzgerald joined the A- Blast starting off as a staff writer and creeping into the entertainment page with his album reviews.
By his senior year, Desmond would become the entertainment editor, never failing to fill up the page each issue with album reviews, ‘Playlist of the Issue’, and album recommendations. With the unity of music taste, Fitzgerald and Caleb Virkstis, former student from Justice HS, whom Fitzgerald met in Glasgow MS, started to create rap beats together.
“We didn’t really think anything of it [creating rap beats], but eventually down the line we contacted my friend Mike, who’d also been making a lot of music and asked if he wanted to get together with us,” Fitzgerald said. “It was all three of us at the same time who decided that we should probably join to create a band.”
Looking back at his time in AHS, Fitzgerald recalls the reception given by others when ‘JASMINE’, the first released song by LUNCHROOM! was dropped.
“I liked hearing what they had to say about the song whether it was positive or negative. And you know, just being in high school at the time,” said Fitzgerald. “It really kind of added to the experience of starting up my first band.”
The LUNCHROOM! a DMV and Nashville based band that produces jungle, drum and bass, rap, house music and techno music, was released back in 2019. Hence its unique name, LUNCHROOM! is used to signify the range of genres of songs produced.
The original members, Mike Bennett, Virkstis, and Fitzgerald- all started working together since high school and continue to do so despite the difference in location. The work of producing is done through sending each other files and tends to be split through all members of the band while Bennett is the best at engineering and mixing.
With their current music production, the band is heavily inspired by artists like AphexTwin, Goldie, Bjork, and Ice Spice. With future reference, Fitzgerald hopes to be able to perform in all locations band members are based in and continue to push the genres they represent.
Fully reflecting on the impact of music in Fitzgerald’s life, he notices the circle back moment.
“For me, music was always a way to kill boredom. And now that I’m like actually releasing it, I’m seeing the benefits from what I’ve been doing for the past ten years,” said Fitzgerald. “I’ve always just loved making music or singing and doing little things to cure my boredom and music has always been a great outlet for that.”
Feel free to check out the LUNCHROOM! band through Instagram, @lunchroomoffiicial and check out their music on Spotify!
