Luca Ferraioli
From a Joke to a Jam: IU student band shares their journey
By Riley Benak, Luca Ferraioli and Camilla Fiorenza
BLOOMINGTON, IND. (Apr. 3, 2025) – Indiana University Sophomore Ethan Kerschner has been working hard outside of his management major, being lead singer in the student-run band, “In Bloom”.
Every Wednesday night at 7 p.m., the hum of music and laughter spills out of a Bloomington home. It’s not just another college hangout—it’s band practice for In Bloom, a rising student group blending friendship, creative passion, and raw talent into original songs that are turning heads both on campus and beyond.
At the heart of In Bloom is Ethan Kerschner
, the band’s lead singer and a management major at Indiana University. Ethan leads weekly jam sessions with guitarist Frankie Petroff and drummer Sullivan Watson, weaving together new tracks in the warmth of Frankie’s kitchen.
“We’ll sit around the table, sometimes with no real plan, and just bounce ideas back and forth,” Ethan says. “It’s super collaborative. Someone will hum a melody or pull inspiration from a song we all love, and suddenly we’re onto something.”
This spontaneous yet intentional approach shows their creative process. The band’s chemistry, both musical and personal, is what makes their sound so unique. Frankie brings in slick electric guitar riffs that complement Ethan’s vocals, while Sullivan keeps everything grounded with tight, dynamic percussion.
The trio has been practicing consistently for months, refining both original songs and covers. Their hard work paid off when they were selected to be featured in Live From Bloomington, an annual campus fundraiser and music showcase where student bands submit their original work for a chance to be included on a compilation CD. The chosen tracks are professionally produced and released at a launch party each October, with proceeds going toward local causes.
“It’s a really cool way to get your music out there while supporting something bigger than yourself,” Ethan explains.
In preparation, In Bloom will head into the renowned Jacobs School of Music recording studios this April to lay down tracks. The experience marks a new chapter for the band, taking their homemade sound to a professional level.
With roughly 800 plays on their SoundCloud page (@InBloom), the group is slowly building a loyal following. Their music reflects a blend of indie rock, alternative, and a dash of retro influence, but it’s hard to box them into a single genre.
“We’re just figuring it out as we go,” says Frankie. “Every song is kind of its own thing.”
Outside of the band, each member juggles full course loads, jobs, and social lives. But their shared love of music is the glue that holds it all together.
Sullivan, who studies psychology, credits their success not just to practice, but to the bond they’ve built as friends. “There’s a level of trust and openness that you need to be creative together,” he says. “No one’s afraid to throw out a weird idea, and that’s what makes the best stuff happen.”
For an outside perspective, we spoke with Ella, also an Indian University student and Frankie’s girlfriend. She’s seen the band evolve over time and has become one of their biggest supporters.
“They’re always pushing each other to be better, and you can tell they care a lot about what they’re making,” she says. “It’s fun to watch them work together—and honestly, some of their songs are stuck in my head all the time.”
That kind of impact is exactly what In Bloom is hoping for. More than anything, the band wants to create music that connects.
“We’re not trying to be famous or anything,” Ethan says, laughing. “We just want to make stuff that means something to people. If someone hears our song and it makes their day a little better, that’s enough.”
As the October launch party approaches and studio time looms, In Bloom is stepping into a new phase. But no matter how far they go, their foundation remains simple: friends, music, and the kind of creative spark that lights up kitchens on quiet Wednesday nights.
You can catch their music on SoundCloud at @InBloom, and stay tuned for their debut on the Live From Bloomington CD this fall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjDLAvcLnHY
