Points to Stars, formed by Patrick McGinty and Mark Altskan, performed at the Feb. 21 TerPoets. McGinty is a singer-songwriter who lives in the Writers’ House. Photo by Marlena Chertock for The Writers’ Bloc.

By Shannon Mooney

Staff Writer

Sophomore Hannah Methvin started playing the guitar when she was 15 and began taking voice lessons a year later. She has performed several times at TerPoets and iTunes recently began distributing  her music.

Many Writers’ House residents have musical interests, whether it is singing, songwriting, playing instruments or a combination. Their talents extend beyond English and literature.

Methvin, an English and studio art double major, sings and plays the guitar. Her music, which consists of soft acoustic songs, is growing in popularity and her Facebook page currently has 108 likes.

Methvin admitted one of her inspirations is Taylor Swift. “I’m always kind of embarrassed to tell people that,” she said.

She plans on performing with the Walking Sticks, a band on campus that consists of brothers Spencer and Maxwell Ernst.

Methvin said she is always open to perform with other people. Senior English major Patrick McGinty, also a resident of Writers’ House, suggested the two collaborate.

McGinty has been playing guitar since he was 10 and began singing and writing songs around the age of 14.  He’s performed at bars around Annapolis, Baltimore and Pasadena and at open-mics in College Park.

McGinty also has his music online on his own website, under his band name Points to Stars. His sound can be described as acoustic and fresh, with a few up-beat and energetic songs. One of his biggest influences is Simon Joyner.

“I take inspiration from anything and everything,” he said. “I like telling stories, or just attempting to articulate emotion through a song.”

Sophomore English major David Bowman, another Writers’ House musician, began playing guitar his sophomore year of high school and developed an interest in singing afterwards.

Bowman plays with his friend, guitarist Alex Bongiovanni. Typically Bowman writes lyrics and Bongiovanni writes the music for their band called Bad Math.

“It makes for an interesting thing because it becomes a collaboration,” Bowman said of their back-and-forth songwriting process.

While Bad Math doesn’t currently have music online, “It’s always been a goal,” he said. “We think about doing it but it’s hard to find the time.”

Bowman’s first time performing in front of an audience was very recently at the Feb. 21 TerPoets. He plans on performing again and intends on playing his own music.


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