Andromeda is a student band at Manitou Springs High School, consisting of Darden Martinez (11), Ryder Otterstetter (11), and Dillon Malone (11). Martinez plays the guitar and does vocals, Otterstetter plays the drums and some vocals, and Malone plays the bass. They formed their band in December 2024. On Feb. 14 at 8 p.m., they had a performance at What’s Left Records in Colorado Springs. They were the opening band for the night, and they played six songs.
The name Andromeda is a science term that comes from space: it’s a neighboring galaxy to the Milky Way. “So we actually had the name Orthodox before, but we found out there was already a band called Orthodox; so we were just kind of messing around. I was watching space videos, so I said Andromeda, and they liked it,” Otterstetter said.
Andromeda got a good chance to play at a live performance and they took it. “I have a lot of connections through the Colorado Springs music scene. Since I’ve been around, I was just talking to a friend, and they were like, we actually have a gig and we need someone to open,” Otterstetter said.
Martinez was looking forward to the performance as a big step in their band’s career. “I think we’re almost a little shocked that we are actually able to play live,” Martinez said. “Our goal was just to play a live show.”
Before the performance, Martinez was looking forward to what was in store for Andromeda, “I’m feeling ready, and I think we’re actually gonna do really good. And I think it’s gonna be cool to see the other bands there too, and to see the whole Valentines Day theme.” Martinez said.
Martinez believes that the show went well. “I assumed that something was gonna go wrong, but nothing really did,” Martinez said. “I think the show went really well. It beat my expectations.”
All the band members value each other and enjoy each other’s company. “We’re all pretty tight packed, and we treat each other like brothers,” Malone said.
Otterstetter loves being a part of a band with his friends, loves to spend time with them, and loves making music. “I think the best part about being in a band is I’m with my two best friends, and I’m doing what I want and making my art and communicating how I want to,” Otterstetter said.
Otterstetter is considered a leader of the band as he manages most of the accounts and information, but they all still have very important roles. “Ryder, just because most of the accounts are created off of his phone, so, emails and stuff, he kind of has access to all that, but we mostly try to divide it evenly,” Martinez said.
Martinez hopes to add more members to their band and expand the potential of music they produce. “I really don’t see why somebody should limit the amount of people that they have in their band, and I think it would be really cool if, for each song, there was a new person that added their own element,” Martinez said.
They don’t plan on disbanding their band anytime soon, and want to write more music and release a second album. “I’m definitely most looking forward to the future songs that we’re going to write, because it’s just such a therapeutic feeling of going through the songwriting process, if you will,” Martinez said. “We want to make it a lot more like a studio and be less able to play it live.”
