Turning fiction into fact with music

Music is heard at the grocery store, in the car and even in the waiting room at a doctor's office. Fast food restaurants even play music. Adding Wendy's and music together was inspiring for the band Fact is Fiction.

The band, including three CFCC students, started over a meal at Wendy's.

"We (Zac and Mike) were like, hey do you want to start a band? Okay! Now what do you want to eat?" Zac Hinkofer, the drummer and 19-year-old music major, said.

The other members of the band include vocalist Kris Gendron, 20 and music major, as well as guitarist Mike Sedlack, 18 and liberal arts major. Eric Johnson, 19, plays guitar and Sean Kitchen, 20, is the bass player.

Sedlack and Hinkofer have played in bands together before, one of those bands also included Johnson. Adding Johnson to the line up was as simple as asking a friend for a favor.

"I love playing music with my friends so it just seemed like a good idea," Hinkofer said. 

After auditioning Gendron joined the band as the vocalist. Auditions were also held for a bass player Kitchen auditioned and is now working with the band as a bass player.

"Since I am in a band with my friends it is easier to communicate about our problems as a group. We connect on a much deeper level than most people, we understand each other musically and have learned to anticipate our moves, even when there is a mistake," Sedlack said.

The band's name came from a thought that Hinkofer had during a class.

"I wanted to tell fictitious stories as if they were real," Hinkofer said.

The name Fact is Fiction was then added to a list of possible band names. Sedlack said that they really liked how Fact is Fiction sounded which is why it was chosen.

Joining a band while working and going to school requires making time for yourself as well.

"Basically I try to assign certain days, I take out days for Zac time and days for band time, I try not to mix them," Hinkofer said about balancing his schedule.

Fact is Fiction's first live performance was at Citrus High School's Battle of the Bands near the end of Sedlack and Hinkofer's senior year. They have played at the Backstage Lounge in Gainesville and also the Pegasus Lounge in Tampa.

"When you come to a Fact is Fiction show we expect you to see some high energy and to have a good time because that's what we're doing," Gendron said.

The band is currently taking a hiatus from shows to truly find their genre and to work on studio quality recordings.

Hinkofer described Fact is Fiction's music as post-hardcore with a little bit of pop and jazz. Since the members each have different music tastes finding a genre to fit into took some time.

"We are starting to come together now and rest on a post-hardcore genre," Gendron said.

Post hardcore is a genre of music that evolved from hardcore punk. It features loud instruments, precise rhythms and a mix of screaming and calmer vocals. Bands such as Fugazi, Thrice and the Used are considered to be post hardcore.

The members of Fact is Fiction are often inspired by lyrics, and music from other bands.

"I have been listening to a lot of The Rise of Science lately because they are just pure talent and its what I strive to be," Hinkofer said.

Gendron said that good music, including a talented instrumentalist and poetic lyrics, inspires him to play music.

"Music is constantly running through my head," Gendron said.