Cousins build Sandcastles into band
by Diana De Leon, Feature Editor

   Cousins have been described as kissing or distant.

   In the case of Bryan Higgins and David Crouch, their relationship could be called singing cousins.

   Crouch and Higgins are members of Sandcastle, an alternative rock band.

   Higgins is the unofficial leader of the band that has been together for one year and has already played some big venues.

   "Sandcastle is just a name I threw out there one day, and we thought it was good so it stuck," he said.

   Higgins, who plays bass; his cousin, who plays guitar, and Jared Gaskin, drummer, make up Sandcastle.

   Gaskin learned to play drums in junior high and high school and has played for nine years.

   Higgins, a former South Campus student who now attends UTA, was influenced by bands such as Incubus and the Toadies.

   "E-mo rock is heavy into emotional, and there is more thought to it," he said.

   Crouch was influenced by the heavy metal band Metallica and taught himself to play the guitar seven years ago.

   "Music is a joint effort, and we all contribute to the pot," he said about the group's song writing technique.

   While all three members contribute to the music, writing the lyrics is mostly left to Higgins, who also handles the bookings and serves as the band's contact person.

   Higgins is a business/marketing and operations management major and likes to handle the small business.

   "I want to go into the music business," he said. "I find it unique and interesting because it runs differently than any other business out there."

   Higgins found the classes at UTA a bit slow, so he started his own business with Volatile music.com, a place where young bands can get noticed.

   "We are here to help further their career," he said, "to get them heard."

   Higgins hopes eventually to run his own record label, but stresses that he will finish his degree.

   Between work and school, Sandcastle members practice once a week and do mass e-mailings to let interested fans know where they will be playing.

   Dreamworld in Arlington and the Aardvark in Fort Worth are two recent venues.

   The cousins agree that having parental support means a lot to them.

   "I couldn't believe it, but both my parents came out to the Aardvark and had a great time," Higgins said.

   Gaskin also has supportive parents.

   "We have something really good going on here, and we practice hard," he said. "My parents are happy that someone in the family has talent."

   The band will start work on its first demo next month and hopes eventually to work on a full CD in the future.

   Sandcastle hopes that producer Jordan Richardson, from the band Soviet Space, will add his experience and bring something to the mix.

   "A fresh set of ears," Higgins said, "and maybe he will hear something different."

   Gaskin said he and Richardson were on the same drumline in high school.

   "I respect his views and opinions on the drums, and he is a friend," he said.

   "I am excited that he is our producer," he said.

   Crouch has no doubts where the band is headed because of the band's members.

   "When we came together, it was so fast and it felt so right, there is no where to go but to the top," he said. "It is drive and clarity of vision."

   All the members of Sandcastle believe that it is only a matter of time before their band is on top of the music world.

   "It is more like a brotherhood than anything else," Crouch said. "We all get along great."