June 8, 2005
Girl-power chords: Cloud 9 weathers busy schedules
Members of all-girl band share same high school, sport, classes and memories
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Same schedule, same sport, same classes and same band - four Central High School friends have been inseparable for four years.
Members of the all-girl band Cloud 9 - Tiffany Homant on bass, Jessie Aja on percussion, Claire Gibbons as lead singer and Polly Cline on lead guitar - spend just about all of their time together. After knowing each other because of soccer, they began their freshman year with overlapping interests in sports, academics, student government, band and choir.
When Cloud 9 formed in ninth grade, members merged what little spare time each had into rehearsal and gigs. With graduation now days away, the four friends have spent their high school years as a hub of a wide circle of friends.
"We all have pretty much the same schedule and if one of us is busy, the rest of us are," noted Gibbons of Cloud 9 members. "We're always with at least one person."
Band members weave their practice sessions and performances around numerous other commitments, diligently coordinating their planners. A looming performance date spurs them into action.
"We're all so busy with other things but whenever we have a gig, we start practicing more," Aja said.
"We know when we need to practice and we know when we need to take a break," Gibbons added.
Eclectic as their interests, Cloud 9's music ranges from folk, rock and punk to jazz and pop. They democratically decide what songs to include in what are typically 30-minute sets, though they make sure to open with an upbeat number.
"Really, whatever sounds good to us, whatever we feel like playing," said Gibbons, lead singer for the group.
"We like to play a bunch of different music to make it fun for the audience," Homant noted. "Because we all have different tastes."
The original iteration of Cloud 9 included Aja, Homant and Cline. The trio formed for a talent contest at the end of eighth grade and played "Wipe Out" at the show. Gibbons joined them soon after and the foursome now occasionally welcomes guest musicians. Their recent performance at Central's Battle of the Bands also included seniors Sarah Smoyer on vocals and Dan Kaschel on keyboards.
Immersed in the choral program and performing in the school's annual musicals and other choral offerings for years, Gibbons said that playing with Cloud 9 has enhanced her performing skills.
"It's helped me with stage presence because I used to get really nervous," she noted. "That and Choral-Aires has helped me."
Homant dropped out of school band in the ninth grade, trading time with drums for hockey. She took up the bass guitar specifically for Cloud 9 and has enjoyed continuing with music on a smaller scale than a school commitment would require.
"It's definitely good in not letting me let go of what I learned," she said, adding about learning a new instrument: "Since I already had musical experience, it wasn't that difficult."
All members of the winning Trojan soccer team, Cloud 9 members have also enjoyed the cachet of being an all-girl band.
"We get to do something not a lot of others do," Homant said.
The band evolved over the years as the girls have grown musically. Percussionist Aja joined Central's choir last December and her vocal training has enriched the band.
"It really fills in_" started Gibbons, as Aja finished: "The harmonies."
The girls are all heading to different colleges next fall: Homant to Wayne State, Aja to University of Michigan, Gibbons to Michigan State and Cline to University of Chicago. However, being such close friends they will keep in touch despite such varied locales. As far as Cloud 9 goes, they joke about a reunion tour in the future.
Although eager for the next step in their lives, it will be a bittersweet transition for members of Cloud 9.
"It's going to be sad to leave at the end of the summer," Aja said.