"The funny thing is that we fought about names for a really long time when I joined in," said Dayna Arnett, a junior biochemistry and pre-medicine major and the band's lead singer. "The word Declined really exemplifies us as a group. Mostly just because each of us has been rejected in some way or form."
The five-piece group’s name has another meaning, too.
"We're poor college students, so every time we swipe our card, [Declined] is what we see," said Blake Reynolds, the band’s guitarist and an Ivy Tech student majoring in paralegal studies.
Some of the band’s members haven’t been friends for long, but after meeting, everything seemed to fall into place and “click,” Reynolds said.
Arnett knew drummer Nathan Bongard and bassist Aaron Gecowets and introduced them to guitarists Reynolds and Jase Crehan.
The group has played one local show at Be Here Now since getting together, but they’re actively looking for more gigs.
Some of Declined’s trials have been unprecedented–like hospital visits.
Arnett couldn’t breathe the day after the band’s first performance. She visited the hospital, only to discover she had a blood clot in her right lung.
“Come to find out, if we wouldn't have done the show, I probably wouldn't have found out as soon," Arnett said. "It's pretty intense; I just think it's kind of coincidental, how you're performing and next thing you know the lead singer's in the hospital."
Arnett made a quick recovery and the band continued to practice — spirits intact.
The band is a meld of different people with various musical backgrounds.
Arnett grew up going to church and uses her gospel influence in a natural way, adding a soulful tinge to a mix made up of old-school rockers and a heavy-metal taught drummer. The band also features several multi-instrumentalists.
Arnett provides lyrics while Reynolds brings the music. Before Arnett joined, the band wrote their own lyrics, but were heavily influenced by romantic songs.
Being able to focus on music while Arnett creates lyrics has led to an enriched writing environment and an even better band than before, Reynolds said. The personal stories and beliefs she brings, readily apparent in her lyrics, offer a tangible "feel" and blues quality that the music didn't have before.
We're just coming together and really clicking and throwing out all these new songs," Reynolds said. "It's been a crazy ride and I'm glad to see where we're at now."
Joining the band has been a fulfilling experience for Arnett as well. Though the band came together to play music, she's come to refer to her band-mates as some of her best friends, even outside the band environment.
"[It gives] me the opportunity to delve into my music and develop as a writer and a singer," she said. "The fact that I get to spend time with people that I love as well as do something that I'm incredibly passionate about, just blows my mind and I feel like it's something that is worth making time for."
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