By Sanjana Sanghani, Staff Reporter

Leaning back in her chair, senior Sheridan Medosch reflects on why she started making music.

“I just really wanted some friends,” Medosch said.

In eighth grade, Medosch said she was constantly bullied. The novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith inspired her to start the band “Florry,” whose name is derived from the book’s titular character.

“Florry is named after my favorite character whom I relate to the most because she is able to gain independence and ultimately pull herself together,” Medosch said.

Florry includes bassist Peter Gill and drummer Theo Woodward, both in their late twenties. Woodward was a member of Medosch’s old band and Gill met Medosch through a mutual friend.

“Even though Theo and Peter are older than me, they still respect and trust me,” Medosch said. “We all get along well together probably because we’re all wise.”
The band members practice once or twice a month as Woodward lives in Manhattan and Gill in Philadelphia.

“But for the many shows we do, we meet each other at the venue and play without practicing but that’s OK because we’re all very adaptive.” Medosch said.

Having toured in cities like Austin, Memphis and Richmond, Florry signed onto the Washington D.C. based record label, Sister Polygon Records. Florry played in the label’s official showcase at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

“It was super overwhelming at first to play at this huge festival, but it ended up being a good time and I got to talk to bands that I look up to like Smashing Pumpkins and I got to meet Ethan Hawke,” Medosch said.

Medosch, the lead singer, acts as the manager, booking venues and writing songs for the band. To her, songwriting is something that she “is able to flush out all at once.”

“I write about hard times with mental health and being scared and fearful, and when people come up to me and say how my music has helped them during times in their life when they’ve been too scared to come outside, it feels rewarding,” Medosch said.

Despite a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, Medosch said she has never been nervous before performing.

“It’s kind of cool that I don’t get stage fright,” Medosch said. “I feel so comfortable dancing and singing on stage because I’m feeding off my own energy and it’s an awesome time.