We see him often, sitting at his desk while we come in late or leave for an appointment, but few students are aware that Jarrod Pagan is more than just one of our attendance secretaries. Pagan, 31, is lead singer and co-founder of the San Jose-based band, Primary.

The band was formed about a year ago, through unconventional means. “I actually tried out to be the singer in a different band,” Pagan said. “The guitarist in that band [Kevin Rollis] and I got along so well that we started our own band.”

With guitarist Rollis, the process of recruiting other members went more predictably. After auditioning those who responded to their ads, Primary officially formed, consisting of Pagan as vocals and synthesizer; Rollis on the guitar, synthesizer and keyboard; Nick Pagan on drums and Mark Sharp on bass.

After the band assembled, Primary began to compose, practice and perform music. According to their MySpace page, their style, which is influenced by bands like The Cure, is a mix of Synth pop, Britpop and post punk. The site dubs the eclectic genre “post-pop.” “In the late 70s and 80s, the punk template started to incorporate more melody and expanded its scope and sound, resulting in post-punk and art-punk,” Pagan said, “We use that as the main foundation of our sound to play.”

Currently, Primary performs locally and in cities like Sacramento and Los Angeles, but much of the band members’ focus is on finalizing their first EP. Pagan said that this process requires qualified support, beginning with recording. “Our manager knew a guy in Fremont, Brian Delizza, who runs Indopendence Studios,” Pagan said. “Totally professional, and he works with a lot of local artists. After recording, we send it to a guy in San Francisco to be mastered.” Though the process is complex, Pagan is willing to be patient to ensure that the music is well-prepared. “Mixing volume and managing effects can take months depending on how specific and picky you are, and we’re kind of picky, yeah,” Pagan said.

For Gunn’s aspiring artists, Pagan offers advice from his experience. “Be prepared to work your butt off practicing and playing shows,” Pagan said, “And be nice to everyone, cause no one likes a jerky, egotistical band, no matter how good you are.” For advertising, Pagan has some practical tips for teens. “Get a MySpace or a Facebook, or get both,” he said. “The more people you can tell, the better.”

Pagan also stresses the importance of carefully selecting band members. “You have to find talented people, but you also have to get along,” Pagan said. “They’ve got to be dedicated, motivated and have a good sense of humor.” Pagan jokes about how close his own band has become. “It’s almost like being in a relationship with three other people­–you have fights and have fun and you bond.”

According to Pagan, the satisfaction gained from his music makes up for the challenges playing and promoting a band requires. “The absolute best is when you’re playing a song live that you just know is good,” Pagan said. “There’s definitely a certain feeling you get when everything comes together and people get it. I wouldn’t play if I didn’t get that feeling.”

Primary’s EP will be released in April 2009. Until then, students can find songs and show dates on the band’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com/primaryband.