Four engineers from Porto prepare for exams and still have time to start a band: meet PHASE TRANSITION

Most people probably think that in order to join a band, one must throw away textbooks and devote totally to music. Nothing could be farther from the truth! The band from Porto and from FCUP and FEUP show just that: while studying for exams, the band has released the EP ‘Relatively Speaking’, which is available as of 7th December, on Spotify and on YouTube. Their CD is also available and it is a unique Xmas gift for music lovers.

The Phase Transition band members are Fernando Maia, José Pereira, Luís Dias and Sofia Beco; four students from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP) and the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), respectively, who have found the perfect mix to develop their own music style: classical music, jazz, fusion and metal and progressive music.

Porto. interviewed the band, via email, and here are their recounts on how it all started:

Origins

Most music stars hold college degrees and probably their starting point was in college, like the band from Porto, Phase transition; so it is no surprise to hear that the band started as such in 2018, when Fernando and Luis were studying for an exam at the Library of the Faculty of Sciences of the UP. They noticed that they both “were wearing telling t-shirts” regarding musical genre preferences and soon realised “they were both musicians”.

That very day, they decided to head to a rehearsal room and play covers by Metallica and Megadeth, “out of fun; and for quite some time, they named themselves “Pernas de Pau”.

But, what started as a way of having fun, developed into something more ambitious, especial regarding the fine-tuning of the musical technique, thus the name “Phase Transition. And that transition means that while playing covers they also moved to a new phase of playing originals.

Phase Transition debuted live as a covers band in 2019, in the FMUP Music Fest, at the Hard Club, in Porto. This year, amidst the pandemic, they begun working in original songs and lauched an EP.

This was not the time to give up and the students from FCUP and FEUP decided they would move their project ahead, even during lockdown, and were even able to keep the pre-scheduled dates for the recording of the singles, while studying for the faculty exams.

Harmonize academic time and effort with the band

“As we are engineering students, our field of study at the faculty is focused on sciences and technology; in turn, having the band also means that we can find a “place” to express ourselves creatively and also develop other competencies that will be useful in the future. In fact, the abilities we are gaining, whether in then faculty, or in this musical project are cross-cutting issues, more than people normally think; among other things, in faculty we learn how to deal with technology, how to face challenges, how to cope with a hectic time schedule and to meet deadlines. In addition, we learn how to promote a network of contacts through the band, how to work as a team and having to make decisions constantly, and to plan in advance. But, most of all, the biggest lesson, is that we give our best in each project and we make the most of it”.

Musical references

“Our musical influences are mostly of the progressive music, bands like Dream Theater, Haken and Opeth, besides Jazz and Classical Music. At national level, our reference is the most successful Portuguese band in the country and abroad, Moonspell.”

Platforms

The ‘Relatively Speaking’ includes the theme song ‘Shadows Of Thought’, the last single by Phase Transition, as well as the band’s debut single, ‘Singularity’.

“Our EP, themed ‘Relatively Speaking’, is available in digital format and in streaming platforms as Spotify and Youtube; there is also the CD, available for purchase here."