Antony Abraham

How long have you been playing guitar?

It'll be about three years now.

Who or what inspired you to start playing guitar?

No one in particular. As I started listening to more music I felt like I wanted to learn how to play guitar. There was no particular artist.

What kind of music do you play? Is it similar to what you listen to?

Sometimes. I like listening to jazz and some other more experimental music but I can't really play that on guitar, so mostly I end up playing Guster, Wilco, some Shins and Bright Eyes.

Do you write any of your own stuff?

No, not yet. I'm working on it. It's in progress.

Where do you play?

I play at Potbelly's every Friday from 5:30 to 7:30.

What is your favorite part about performing?

It makes me learn new songs. I learn three or four new songs every week because the same people work at Potbelly's every week at the same time, so I feel like they would get very bored with me if I were playing the same songs all the time. So, it makes me learn new songs and my friends will come and listen to me play. It's a good way to get better at playing in front of people and to improve at performing. You learn little random things about what kind of songs people enjoy and how to build a song, along with what songs appeal to people.

How do you balance your studies and your music?

I usually make time to play every day. I am really busy but because I play at Potbelly's every week I have to learn new songs. That's one of the reasons I play at Potbelly's, because it forces me to keep playing.

What do you hope to do with this? Continue for fun, go on to more?

I just play for fun. If I write songs that I'm happy with then I would try and record with some friends but I don't imagine it becoming a career because I want to go to medical school.

Are you involved in any groups related to your guitar playing (bands, etc) or do you just do it on your own?

I usually play by myself. I invite friends to come and play with me occasionally but nothing formal.

What is your favorite song?

I have about five. I play 'Backyard' by Guster and 'Jesus, Etc.' by Wilco and some other ones.