I’m a high school student from Colchester. I’m really into music – mostly listening and critiquing, though I do play a little guitar and have recently picked up the mandolin. I’m very critical of music and tend to have a more pessimistic view on pop culture and society, which is unusual for someone my age. It’s nice to know that as time goes on, I don’t have to completely lose faith in the current music scene. New bands like Cage the Elephant and the Joy Formidable are refreshing and reassure me that there is someone out there who’s still trying to make music for the sake of music.