Seattle Prep seniors Matt Kennedy and Ben Jammes are carving out their unique mark in the world of music with their three-member grunge and pop rock band, Discovery Park. Abbreviated to Disco Park for short, the band features Kennedy playing the guitar and singing, Jammes playing the bass, and Jacob Bear (JB), a friend from Lincoln High School, drumming.
Kennedy described the process of creating the band name, which was first proposed by his mom. “When I was thinking about band names at the dinner table, my mom suggested Discovery Park. It’s a place Jammes and I often hang out,” shared Kennedy. “I immediately texted Jammes and JB about it, and that’s how we got our name.”
While they’re a local band with a local name, their music influences cast a wider net. Kennedy draws inspiration from bands like Third Eye Blind and Pearl Jam, while the grungy rock sounds of the ’80s, ’90s, and 2010s influence Jammes. Meanwhile, JB is deeply influenced by the iconic Seattle band Nirvana.
When it comes to songwriting, each member brings a distinct contribution. Kennedy explained, “One of us usually comes in with a set of chords and a melody, then the rest of the band fills it out.”
Jammes, on the other hand, starts with guitar chords, building from there. “I play the chords repetitively until a melody forms in my head. Once that connection is established, I just fit in the words.”
One of the major challenges the band has been facing is scheduling. With members living in different parts of Seattle, coordinating practices can be tricky. Despite the challenges, their passion for music shines during their performances. Kennedy’s favorite highlight of the band was a summer block party in Magnolia, “It was just super fun to just share music with people,” he reminisced.
Jammes’s musical highlight is more connected to the band practices. “Sometimes, Matt starts playing random chords and we’re all playing along with them. It’s like, ‘we just created that!'”
The roles in Discovery Park are defined yet flexible. Jammes described Kennedy as the unofficial band leader, taking charge as the lead guitarist and singer. Jammes plays a pivotal role as the band’s unofficial manager, introducing members and providing the practice space at his house. Kennedy describes their dynamic using a movie analogy, “Jammes is like Iron Man, while I’m Captain America.”
Post-graduation, both Kennedy and Jammes are hoping to attend New York University after applying for Early Decision. “Our hope is to both get into NYU, live in New York, and continue with the band,” they shared.
When asked about their most dedicated fans, Jammes stated, “Our biggest fans are definitely our parents. And of course, our groupies, who are mainly just our friends.”
With ambitions to debut music on Spotify before November 9th and a hopeful journey to New York in the future, the Discovery Park band is taking the world by storm, one chord at a time.
