Following in the footsteps of the late Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, Bryan
Martinez, 19, history major, picked up his first guitar at 8 years
old, eventually starting his own band as a sophomore in high school.
“Music grounds me. Both hard times and good times give me reason to
write and play music,” Martinez said.  He is the bassist and vocalist
for his band Tom is My Friend.  With some collaboration from his band
mates, Martinez solely writes most of the band’s songs.
Influenced by successful bands such as, Blink 182, The Beach Boys,
Minor Threat and Weezer, his band’s punk rock style is a mixture of
alternative, rock and punk music from the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Martinez’s musical journey began when he joined the middle school band
at Crossroad Christian Academy as a seventh-grade student.  When the
school band’s bassist graduated middle school, Martinez switched
instruments to learn bass guitar.
“We needed a bassist, so I bought a bass guitar on eBay for $25. I had
no idea how to play it, but I taught myself,” he said.
While he takes his own band very seriously with aspirations to be a
household name, Martinez makes college equally important.
“I realize the band might not go anywhere,” Martinez said.  “So I have
to push forward with education.”
His eighth-grade teacher inspired him to continue on to college.
“She told me, ‘Music is great, but plan A should be college,’” he
said.  “I can always fall back on music.”
In his second year of college, Martinez aspires to be a history teacher.
“My best teachers were history teachers,” he said.  “They showed me
another way to look at things in the world and I want to do the same
for future students.”
With all three band members enrolled in college, Martinez and his band
mates share a common goal through education and music.
“Education is important to all of us, but expressing ourselves through
our own music and playing on a main stage is also our goal,” Eduardo
Herrera, 17, undecided major and the band’s  drummer said.
The band is currently organizing its first tour through the Pacific
Northwest.  It also has plans to produce a second album titled,
“Making Friends.”
“Music will always be my mainstream, it is how I express myself,” Martinez said.
Knowing the music industry can be very discouraging, Martinez
encourages musicians to stick with their talent.
“Anyone that is honest with themselves can sit down and make magic
with music,” he said.