San Diego’s music scene is thriving. With more music venues and festivals than ever, and a steady stream of new bands emerging on a national level, things certainly seem to be bucking the national downward trend. One of the best indicators to a music community’s health is the number of young players entering the fray. The area is also fortunate to have an amazing amount of teen talent, ranging from jazz pianist Chase Morrin to Adolescent’s guitarist Joe Harrison. One of the newest groups, alternative indie quintet Notso Normal, has only been playing for about three months, but is already starting to draw attention. The band is made up of bassist Connor Herron, 13; keyboardist/guitarist Hannah Tandy, 14; drummer Colin Tandy, 13; lead guitarist Dayna Stout, 14; and lead vocalist, Lauren Stout, 17. Despite its brief time as a unit, Notso Normal’s members are already veterans of the local music scene, with shows in previous combos at events such as BeachFest and venues like the Lyceum theatre and the San Diego County Fair. “We all grew up singing in the school choir and some of us played in the elementary school band,” said Lauren Stout. “Hannah and Dayna sang in the PB Middlle School choir and Conner, Colin and Hannah all played in the PB Middle School Band.” She said all of Notso Normal’s members come from musical families. “Colin and Hannah’s mom has a music studio and their dad plays in a band called Big Daddy Blues. Connor’s dad sings and his mom plays the banjo,” said Stout. “All of our parents introduced us to music at a young age and we are glad they did.” Stout said having two sets of sibilings in the band is a plus. “We are able to connect with each other on another level when playing music,” she said. “It’s also easier to give feedback and be honest with how we are doing and how the music sounds. We are becoming a family ourselves as a band.” Stout said she has been making music most of her life, taking voice lessons since the fifth grade. “Originally, my mom told me I had a voice and so I started singing more frequently around my friends and family,” said Stout. “When I got positive feedback, I decided to pursue learning more about voice and performing. I like the feeling I get when singing, It is a feeling that is exhilarating and moving.” She cites two local artists, the band Switchfoot and Jason Mraz,as big influences on her singing. “As a kid, and up until now, my dad would always take me to concerts to see them,” Stout said. “The energy they brought to the crowd with their lyrics and movements and rhythm always amazed me, and I knew that I wanted to give others that same feeling.” According to Stout, the band’s five members enjoy different types of music, including alternative rock, punk, pop, hip-hop and classical music. “This is a great benefit because we can then bring all the different genres and flavors of music into one band,” Stout said. Notso Normal’s songs are primarily penned by the Stout sisters Lauren and Dayna, with Herron also contributing. “We like to write about what goes on in a typical teenage life,” Lauren Stout said. “(It’s) a mix of girl dilemmas and makeups and breakups, and a lot about just growing up and finding your way in the world.” She credits Tandy for the group’s unusual name. “We thought it fit well because we are, as the name implies, not so normal,” Stout said. “It also lets the listeners know they’re in for a surprise and we are unique.” Though Lauren Stout will be heading off to college next year, she plans to attend a local school so the band can continue. “As a band, our goal it to perform, perform, perform,” Stout said. “We would like to have more gigs set up throughout the San Diego area and looking further into the future, a possible record deal and some songs on iTunes. Hey, why not dream big and say, ‘Notso Normal will be nominated for a Grammy?’” Stout said the hardest part of being in a “teenage band” is staying focused. “We tend to goof around a lot and go off playing our own crazy solos during practice,” Stout said. “The guys also tend to have contests of who can play the loudest.” With all Notso Normal’s members still in school, even rehearsing can be difficult. “(Everyone) plays sports and has extracurricular activities we participate in, so finding an opening is challenging. But we always find time for our music,” she said. For Stout, the opportunity to perform with the band is worth the minor inconvieniences. “The benefits of being in a band and playing music is being able to express ourselves, and we have fun doing it,” Stout said. “We put in the time learning the skills of playing an instrument or singing and now we get to play.”