The Kits' Harmonious Journey to the Top
Kaddy Ren '25
Initially debuting at the Winter Assembly back in December, the junior band (soon to be senior band)—The Kits—has successfully carved out a name for themselves within the Masterman community. Before the band officially got their start, the name “The Kits” was derived from an inside joke about the potential band name “Ciaran and the Kittens.” Since then, the band has formed a solid identity with five core members, shortening their name to “The Kits.” The Kits consist of five members: vocalist Victoria Alamo-Rosas (‘25), drummer Quentin Charriez (‘25), guitarist Worth Bergeland (‘25), guitarist and keyboard player Margareth Tanusaputra (‘25), and bassist Ciaran Yudiono (‘25). From their humble beginnings in Quentin’s basement, The Kits have used this year to turn a dream into reality, and there is only more music to come.
The Kits appeared in front of Masterman students for the first time at the Winter Assembly earlier this year, performing a mash-up of “Redbone” and “Last Christmas”. The auditorium was filled with roaring applause at the songs’ transition. After months of preparation, their debut was a success, and The Kits were ready for more.
The group also performed at the talent show this April with renditions of “Black Sheep” by Metric and “Harness Your Hopes” by Pavement. Upperclassmen may recognize the band’s homage to former senior band Rain Delay with their song choice “Black Sheep." Bassist Ciaran acknowledges that, although both bands performed the same song, audiences experienced it differently—and that is the beauty of live music. “Live music always sounds different than recorded pieces because it is the band’s interpretation of how they want people to hear it… we’re not just performing music, we’re also showing the audience our personalities.”
The band has been using the months following the talent show to practice for their performance at the 2nd Annual Masterman Pride Festival. On theme with the event, they will be performing “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan, a queer artist who has recently received rampant success. Additionally, The Kits plan to release merch adorned with pink glitter exclusively available for the Pride Festival. Combining their collective interest in art and fashion with their musical endeavor, original merchandise is in development for the future of The Kits.
Each member expressed their unique music taste, ranging from rock to soft pop to funk. Yet in their diverse tastes, they manage to find commonalities and assess which songs are the best for them to perform. Ultimately, Victoria Alamo-Rosas (‘25) gets the final say as the lead vocalist. She jokes, “They can practice the guitar a little harder, but my vocal cords can only flex so far.”
The future of The Kits is optimistic, promising more in-school performances, merchandise, and an anticipated outside gig. As the band members transition to becoming seniors, Worth Bergeland ('25) expressed excitement about more consistent band practices. Within the band, there has also been discussion of creating original music, but The Kits are in no rush to write or produce their own songs yet. At the moment, the band is satisfied with expressing themselves through non-original live performances. However, one thing is certain, and it is that The Kits are just getting started.