The clatter of tuning strings and the steady thump of drums warming up spill out of a garage on a chilly Sunday afternoon. Inside, four teenagers stand in a loose circle, adjusting their amps and trading jokes as they prepare to run the setlist. It’s a rehearsal like any other for “alls”, a rising queer-emo-punk band, practicing songs one by one to make their mark in the local music scene in Lincoln.

Formed earlier this year in March, alls grew out of a vision developed by LSE junior Charlotte Mar, who first launched this project as a solo act. Now joined by bassist Lily Johnston, drummer Leela Kononoff and guitarist Hunter Hupka, the brand of alls has shaped into a group that combines their different perspectives into something that they all love: music.

Mar said that the group’s formation was the product of both momentum and community support. After performing solo for over a year, including a pivotal January show at the Zoo Bar, she realized she wanted to build something bigger.

“I posted an Instagram story telling people to message me if they were interested in being in a band,” Mar said. “It all happened very quickly, but also very naturally.”

Interest came fast. Friends shared contacts, musicians reached out and what began as the six-member lineup at the start eventually shifted into the four that rehearse today. Mar said that the transitions in members leaving weren’t always simple, but the band’s energy never faded.

“Making sure we didn’t lose any of our excitement or power in our sound was something I really wanted to make sure of,” Mar said.

Even with different musical backgrounds, the members describe a chemistry that clicked from the beginning. Johnston, a senior at LSW who plays bass, joined after seeing Mar’s call online. She said that the band’s dynamic is part of what makes rehearsal meaningful.

“As a group I think we all mesh really well, both personality wise and in our music,” Johnston said. “Charlotte is the mastermind behind everything so far, Hunter brings a lot of energy and Leela keeps all of us on track.”

Kononoff, also a junior at LSW, said that the group’s blend of personalities creates a balance that feels natural.

“Our synergy is really good together and it feels very unique to us,” Kononoff said. “Charlotte and Hunter are more outgoing and Lily and I are more blunt and focused. It works.”

For Mar, fronting a band as a young queer trans woman also shapes the band’s identity. She said alls sits in an “untapped area”, not quite children doing acts but not yet adults in a college scene. Their audiences, consisting of mostly peers, creates a connection she values deeply.

“Its always so astonishing to see people actively enjoying our music or wearing our merch,” Mar said.

The band’s first show in August at a DIY venue in Lincoln called the Juice Box, remains one of their shared highlights. Kononoff remembers the crowd, their nerves and the surprise at how enthusiastically friends and strangers packed the room. Hupka, a LSE senior, recalls that moment as life-changing.

“As soon as I started playing, I realized this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Hupka said.

Their live performances continue to shape the band’s sound and confidence. A favorite song among members include “She’s Got Jowls”, a high-energy piece the group says carries powerful themes about identity resistance and self-belief, and “Coax 2”, a guitar heavy piece with unique lyricism that brings out emotion.

As alls grows, the band has also become intentional about building its presence beyond their live shows. Much of their marketing comes from word of mouth, including social media, such as Instagram, which has become an important tool to widen their popularity.

“When people come to a show and then post us on their story or in their weekly Instagram dumps, it gives us more publicity and shows people are interested,” Mar said.

Their account, “alls_band” on Instagram, has also been an important tool which helps gain traction about their upcoming shows and new music. Even though Mar said a lot of up-and-coming artists don’t just get “discovered” out of nowhere anymore, she still looks on the bright side of being on the borderline of a “social media band”.

“We have a lot of fun making content for our Instagram,” Mar said. “We recorded a video of everyone but Leela (the drummer) attempting to set up the drumkit without help. It was a blast to record, the edit came out hilarious, and so far, it’s doing really well.”

Looking ahead, alls hope to record their first full album next summer and expand its reach beyond Lincoln. Mar said the group also wants to release new merchandise and work toward bigger shows including the possibility of performing in Omaha or other regional cities.

But for now, this band remains rooted in the same garage where they put their differences aside to rehearse, and shape songs that reflect who they are and who they want to become.

“We love what we do, and we don’t want to stop,” Kononoff said.