Student band Plus One adds to Lafayette College’s R&B, indie pop and alternative music scene.
The group, which recently performed for a crowded Quad at Fall Fest, is made up of six Lafayette students who have been playing under the name for a year.
Band members Ajanji Martin ‘26, Sanaa Hintes ‘26 and Justin Morales ’26 began playing music together as freshmen. While Martin started learning guitar a year before college, Hintes and Morales picked up their instruments for the band.
“Literally that same day, we go down to the pawn shop in downtown Easton, bought her a bass,” Martin said of Hintes deciding to join the band.
David Antwi ’26 later joined on saxophone and Grace Leechow ’27 became the band’s singer. The band’s latest addition is Amanda Forgione ‘27, who plays keys and occasionally does vocals.
The name Plus One comes from a tradition of bringing a new student, unaffiliated with the band, to play with them on stage for a performance. This list has included Diogo Delcarmen ’27, Sidharth Mahadeo ’26 and Andrew Madera Pineda ’27.
“There’s a lot of talent around this school,” Martin said.
“I love every single member,” Forgione said. “They immediately made me feel welcome. They talked to me like I was friends with them forever.”
The band has given the group a reason to “spend time together and make memories,” according to Hintes.
“I enjoy the people who I play with,” said drummer Morales. “They’re my friends before band and we’re friends outside of band.”
The musicians have adapted to work with each other. Forgione said she has more control when playing alone, but synchronizes her keys with the other instruments in a band setting. Antwi echoed this sentiment.
“It’s easier to do a solo song, but there’s a higher reward with doing it with multiple people because you get three, four, five, six different sounds going on at the same time,” Antwi said. “They all unify in a beautiful way.”
The band shares a notes document where they each add songs they like and might want to play. This is how they assembled their Fall Fest set, including Tummy Hurts by Reneé Rapp, a favorite of Leechow’s.
“It’s very rewarding and I love doing it,” said Leechow about being in the band. “It’s a really great way to connect with other people.”