The Vagabonds: The Sound of Our School

For the past few weeks, during each assembly the students' ears have been blessed by the school's official band. What started as a simple idea turned into one of the most dynamic student-led initiatives in our school: The Vagabonds. 

The band was founded by a sophomore Lile Lelashvili, inspired by watching her sister perform in a band at her previous school. After approaching the administration and receiving support regarding instruments, she and Kristine Lelashvili sent out a form, held auditions, and selected the first members within a week. 

Although there were many students who showed interest in joining, the journey was anything but effortless. “Our first rehearsal was a little chaotic,” Lile said. “We were more trying to figure out how to manage the band and what kind of songs we would play.” The members came from different grades and had very different personalities. Additionally, some were already experienced, while others were just beginning.

Drummer Alexandre Tsekvashvili joined with determination rather than experience. When Lile announced the band during assembly, he immediately wanted to be part of it, even though he had never played a drum set before. He, however, did have some experience playing the traditional Georgian drum (Doli), so he auditioned with it and joined the band. From there, the real work began. “During lunch breaks, I would go to the auditorium and practice on my own,” Alexandre said. He practiced coordination by tapping rhythms on tables and teaching himself to play different rhythms using drum-track remover apps. He mentions the film Whiplash and that its main character’s determination was what inspired him to practice harder and set ambitious goals for himself. “I truly believe that if you try hard enough, you can learn anything,” Aleksandre said. 

Over time, with the guidance of their teacher Luka Machavariani - who was once a student at our school and now has his own band, “disk2”- rehearsals became more productive. With his experience as an active musician and a former GZAAT student, he has helped the group to be more organized and refine their sound. 

While some members began their journey with the band, others had been connected to music for years. Lead vocalist Lile has been singing since she was three years old. The sisters switch lead and harmony depending on the song’s range. Their musical influences range widely, from Radiohead to Adele. “Adele’s songs really influenced me,” she shares. One of her favorite songs to perform is "Skyfall”.

Junior guitarist Giorgi Martiashvili’s path to music began differently. In the beginning, his mother had signed his sister up for guitar lessons, to which Giorgi decided to accompany her. He discovered that he enjoyed it himself. He started with classical guitar for a year before switching to electric. “Once I tried electric, I realized I liked it way more,” he says. He mentions James Hetfield from Metallica as a major influence.

Guitarist Dati Mikhelashvili’s journey also began with encouragement from his family. “At first, I didn’t even want to play guitar,” he says. His mother encouraged him to try it, and after his first lesson, he discovered what he describes as a “hidden talent.” He played classical guitar for a year before auditioning, then switched to electric.

Bassist Nikoloz Sadaghashvili’s story is the most unexpected as he first became interested in bass only after seeing The Vagabonds perform at the Christmas party, when they announced they needed a bassist. “At first, I joked that I knew how to play,” he says. “But I had never even played bass before in my life.” By the end of December, he began learning seriously in order to join. His father, Sandro Sadaghashvili, the bassist in ‘ZoombaLand,’ helped him learn fundamentals, but Nikoloz's interest developed independently. Within weeks, he officially became part of the group. Nikoloz says Les Claypool inspires him, showing how the bass can stand out instead of staying in the background.

“The best way to learn is by playing with others,” Giorgi reflects on Nikoloz’s rapid progress. The teamwork and collaboration skills are clear with their band, as the members support and guide each other. Alexandre Tsekvashvili says, “Since I play multiple instruments, I feel like I can give useful advice to each member about their parts and how everything fits together”, highlighting that the group focuses not only on individual growth but also on collective development. 

The Vagabonds are honest about their dynamic, “Nikoloz and I are definitely the troublemakers,” Dati admits. “Before practice starts, we can be a bit chaotic,” Giorgi admits. “But once we start playing, we become serious and focused.” 

Musically, the band is rooted in rock, drawing inspiration from artists such as Metallica and Radiohead. They have performed songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Another Brick in Tge Wall,” “Hotel California,” and “Creep”. Now, they are taking the next step: creating their own music. The instrumentals and harmonies are nearly complete, and lyrics are currently in progress. “We want it to be energetic, kind of Pink Floyd style” Giorgi explains, “but also something the school can listen to and vibe to.” 

The band’s name, inspired by the idea of exploration, reflects their current stage. Like vagabonds, they are still discovering themselves, experimenting with their sound, and developing together as musicians. 

They are a group shaped by leadership, humor, persistence, and passion; with every rehearsal, they continue to become the sound of our school.

Written By: Natali Devidze