Many musicians have graduated from Lincoln; musicians such as Elliott Smith, Nate Query (The Decemberists), and Robert Mann (co-founder of the Juilliard String Quartet). Eli Goldberg, freshman, is also an aspiring musician. He plays in his indie/alternative rock band, The Castaway Kids, with a few of his long-time friends, and The Cardinal Times Online sat down with him for a chat.

CT: What kind of music do you play?

EG: Alternative rock and indie rock, that kind of stuff.

CT: How long have The Castaway Kids been playing together?
EG: We’ve been together for 3 years now, since 6th grade. Originally our band name was Running With Scissors, but we changed it to The Castaway Kids this year.

CT: When did you personally get started?
EG: I’ve been playing music since I was 5, so 10 years now. I play the guitar, piano, marimba, drums, bass, and I’m currently learning the violin.

CT: What’s the main inspiration for your songs?
EG: (Laughing) Well, that would be Gracie, Tristan (band member)’s love interest at this point in time. They certainly are two star-crossed lovers… Well, at least he is, I don’t know about her.

CT: What’s your favorite song to play?
EG: Personally? “June 2nd.” As a band, I believe that’s “San Francisco.”

CT: What kind of bands inspire you?
EG: The Strokes, Bright Eyes, and I think Radical Face.

CT: What song by another band have you always wanted to cover?
EG: Probably “1979” by Smashing Pumpkins personally, and “The Modern Age” by The Strokes with the band.

CT: You recently won the Battle of the Bands at the Hawthorne Theater. What was it like playing that concert?
EG: Well, we all agreed that it was the most fun show we’ve ever played. It was stressful in the beginning, but then it got relaxing. Stressful and fun.

CT: What’s the best part of performing?
EG: I think the best part of it is when we’re all into it and play really well, we all feel really connected.

CT: What do The Castaway Kids have planned next?
EG: Well, as we are speaking, Blue and Tristan (band members) are recording our new album, “This Wasted Year,” which will hopefully be released in the next two weeks, before school ends. We’re also using the studio time we won in Battle of the Bands to record our songs “Ghosts and San Francisco” so we can release those as singles in the next month to two months.

CT: Most of your new songs are named after dates. Why is that?
EG: (Laughing) Actually, all of the songs in The Wasted Year are dates, one for each month. They relate to events that happened between Gracie and Tristan.

CT: What are you most looking forward to about the upcoming album?
EG: Our first LP coming out, as well as having more songs to play at shows; we’ll have a lengthened set.

CT: Which song should listeners look forward to the most?
EG: I’m actually not sure, but probably “June 2nd” and “September 22nd.”

CT: Any words of advice for other high school musicians?
EG: I would say stick with it and don’t play just for the money!

The Castaway Kids’ first album, “Why Should I Wait,” can be found on iTunes, along with their first EP single, “Mystery Girl.”