For senior Ally Kamphefner being in a band is not just a hobby, it’s a way of life.
“A lot of my life actually revolves around the band because I always catch myself daydreaming about playing with them or about new stuff or writing,” Kamphefner said.
Kamphefner is the lead singer for rock band LOTUS who practices in Johnson County, Kansas, at Music House School of Music.
“I spend so much gas driving back and forth to Kansas,” Kamphefner said.
After being left on their own when their first band “Liquid” disbanded, Kamphefner and bandmates Olathe West High School junior Lila Smith and Olathe Northwest High School sophomore Laine Rosenboom were placed with Shawnee Mission North High School sophomore Ellis Scheufler through Music House, forming LOTUS in September 2024. New member senior Nathan Mestel from Shawnee Mission West High School soon joined the group.
“Lotus actually stands for ‘Love of the Universal Sound’ because we’ve all come from very different musical backgrounds,” Kamphefner said.
Kamphefner said she chose Lotus after “The Lotus Eaters” based off of Yann Martels “The Life of Pi,” referring to the metaphor of addiction but also the beauty of the lotus flower itself.
Gaining new friends in the local music scene and being able to play shows just for fun has been a big accomplishment for Lotus, Kamphefner said.
“I really enjoy that and being able to write our own music and really just the community we’ve built around the band, not just the band itself or the music,” Kamphefner said.
As for her personal accomplishments, Kamphefner has gained stage confidence and social skills from performing and solving problems with the band, writing music and changing up covers.
“My motivation is just seeing all the other bands in the scene and seeing how much fun they have,” Kamphefner said. “It’s just so inspiring. There’s lots of beautiful people there, and it’s very motivating. I want to be like them someday and play on an actual stage at a show we’re getting paid for.”
Tomorrow, Sep. 27, Lotus is opening for the band “Heater” at the Westport Bowery, starting at 8 p.m. It is their first paid show, with tickets starting at $10 online and $15 in person. You can buy tickets for their show on seatfun.com.
