Backstory:
Born out of the creativity of four college friends from Boston, Feline Graduate came to life in 2007. The members, namely, Peter Simmons (Vocals, Guitar), Derek Howard (Bass), Rebecca Smith (Keyboard), and Mike Stevenson (Drums) all met in a music theory class at Harvard University. United by their shared love for music, they started goofing around and jamming in the basement of their dorm, with their mascot – a stray tabby cat they adopted and named “Graduate”. Their creative fusion resulted in the formation of the band, Feline Graduate, a tribute to their beloved feline friend.
Even after graduating and moving out of the dorms, the quartet continued their musical journey, refining their sound and blending their unique influences. They carried a piece of their college life into their adult phase, focusing on lyrics and melodies that speak about the transition phase, exploring the bittersweet experiences of growing up, and the nostalgic reminiscence of college life.
Genre:
Indie Pop
Title:
“Whiskers and Diplomas”
Full Song Lyrics:
(Verse 1)
[G]Underneath the old oak tree, [D]we set our hearts free,
[Em]Caught in a world of books and [C]dreams, nothing as it seems.
[G]Laying on the grass so green, [D]in the light of a silver screen,
[Em]We laughed, we cried, we [C]broke, we tried.
(Chorus)
[G]Whiskers and Diplomas, [D]that’s all we had,
[Em]In the world of Feline Graduate, [C]nothing was bad.
[G]We sang of love, we sang of pain, [D]in sunshine and in rain,
[Em]The rhythm of our hearts, [C]the melody remains.
(Verse 2)
[G]The nights in the library, [D]drenched in mystery,
[Em]Chasing dreams in the corridors, [C]behind the ancient doors.
[G]We found a friend in each other, [D]a sister, and a brother,
[Em]Under the watchful eyes of [C]our feline lover.
(Chorus)
[G]Whiskers and Diplomas, [D]that’s all we had,
[Em]In the world of Feline Graduate, [C]nothing ever went bad.
[G]We sang of hope, we sang of fears, [D]in laughter and in tears,
[Em]The rhythm of our youth, [C]the melody still here.
Favorite Fan:
Our favorite fan is a woman named Lisa Thompson. She discovered our music during her first semester at college and has been a dedicated follower ever since. Lisa says, “Feline Graduate’s music just hits home. The lyrics, the melodies, they resonate with my own experiences as a college student. I feel like their songs are the soundtrack of my life. Whenever I’m stressed or feeling homesick, their music just soothes my soul. Plus, the story behind their band name is so adorable, it adds a personal touch. I feel a connection with them, it’s more than just about the music. They are my favorite band, hands down.”