By: Lucie Coppola

Jack Romanov formerly known, as The Guilty Sparks is a band composed of all Suffolk University students Luke Bergamini, Nico Renzulli, Esteban Cajigas, and Nick Aikens, all of which are determined to make a name for themselves on and off campus. They have had multiple shows at Suffolk and many others in Boston recently. They would like to gain a wider fan base and gain more listeners through their journey of performing. The Suffolk Journal was able to sit down with two members of this new and upcoming group to get the lowdown on what they’re all about.

To hear more from Jack Romanov check them out on Facebook at facebook.com/JackRomanov4 and keep an eye out for one of their upcoming shows at Suffolk University and around the greater Boston area.

INTERVIEW:

Q: What made you change your name from The Guilty Sparks to Jack Romanov?

A: We decided to change it because we started talking to a record label, and it looks like it could be leading to some relatively serious things, so we decided to, you know, get our act together and step up our game with a more serious name.

Q: Where did that name come from?

A: It was Esteban’s pen name; our bassist had been sitting on this name. He writes short stories and what not, so he had just had this name in mind as a potential character. And then we were just like yeah this is it.

Q: How did you guys come together/form this band?

A: We met [each other] last year because we were both trying to get into the drum room, I’m a drummer too, and then we started jamming together. This was me and him to start, we are the founding members. And then we started playing together.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration?

A: We take from a lot of things, a lot of songs are just about you know, crummy things that can happen to you in life. But we have ridiculous songs, like we have this one about video games, and we’ve got one song about high school, a lot of songs about nothing. We’re the Seinfeld of bands.

Q: What are some bands you look up to?

A: Arctic Monkeys, Led Zeppelin, and The Deer Hunter.

Q: Where’s the coolest place you’ve ever played?

A: Tammany Hall in New York City, it was a big show.

Q: Do you ever find it hard to play to certain audiences that you are set in front of?

A: Yes, open mic was pretty tough. We learned our lesson though. The first time we played here last year we had people sit in chairs and that didn’t work. So this time when we played at 150 we had people stand up, and it brought the energy level up. I think we learned from our mistakes.

Q: What’s your favorite song that you guys play/why?

A: Blackest Blues for both of us. Because it’s just us two, so we get to show off.

Q: What’s the strangest thing that has ever happened to you at a gig?

A: On the drum set I lose the bass pedal a lot. And once Estaban dressed up in a green man suit.

Q: Where do you hope to play in the future?

A: Middle East, or The Paradise, The Sinclair, the ultimate goal though would be to play at the TD Garden.

Q: You mentioned talks about a record label; can you say more about that?

A: Yeah we’re in talks with a label to sign a contract with them in the near future to record a full album, but nothing is signed yet. It would come out around March and when it came out we would have a show at the Middle East, a large release party, and then hopefully go on a mini tour on spring break and play a couple of shows in a row.

Q: Why should people listen to you?

A: Because we like to have fun honestly and enjoy what we do, we want people to have fun too. And because our music is good.

Q: What members make up your band, Jack Romanov?

A: Nick Aikens -Lead vocals, keys Luke Bergamini- guitar, backup vocals (Esteban Cajigas,) bass Nico Renzulli