The band Widowspeak, founded by two NYU seniors, played a small show at the Broome Residential College last Sunday. The show was hosted by faculty fellow in residence Bryan Waterman (who teaches Writing New York in CAS).

The band also answered questions in a Q&A run by WNYU DJ (and former NYU Local writer) Jenn Pelly. They talked a little bit about what it’s like trying to make it as a band in Brooklyn, their plans after graduation, and the music scene in Tacoma, WA, where two of the band’s members grew up listening to and playing in the local grunge scene.

Widowspeak is comprised of Rob Thomas (guitar), Michael Stasiak (drums), and Molly Hamilton (rhythm guitar, vocals). Rob and Michael are both NYU seniors. “We both lived in Hayden. The great thing is, you guys actually know what that means,” Michael said during the Q&A.

“I think we actually met when you were doing your laundry. You had a great moustache at the time,” said Rob.

In a story that is typical of many NYU musicians, Michael and Rob frequently talked about starting a band, but never actually played together until the summer after their junior year, when Michael and Molly (who were both involved in a label called Dear Records in high school) started a band and realized they needed a guitarist. They then began to play shows around New York, mostly in Brooklyn.

“The Brooklyn scene is surprisingly accessible. I think people give it less credit than it’s due,” said Michael. “It’s not like it’s the League of Extraordinary Indie Shitheads, or something.”

Widowspeak has just finished recording their debut album, which will come out some time this summer on the Captured Tracks label. It features dreamy vocals from Hamilton and a melodies and mellow rock rhythms inspired by the 1950s and 90s.