In a basement decorated with speakers and cords, guitarist/singer Jack Lambert, bassist Rylan Lacey, drummer AJ Tartol and guitarist Tommy English launch into a performance of their new single. This pop-punk band, Outlook, is looking at a probable record deal after altering their lineup and changing their name from its original, Occupancy 64.

Current juniors at CHS, Lacey and Lambert started playing music together back in 7th grade. They joined up with English, a junior at San Diguito Academy, for Occupancy 64 two years ago.

“We first started playing at random local venues, just anywhere that would let us play,” Lambert said. “Then as we started meeting more people and making friends with other bands, we started getting invited to a bunch of shows.”

Originally, English played drums and Garrison Zoutendyk played guitar. They parted ways with Zoutendyk as he joined a metal band, now called Shawshank Redeemed. When Tartol joined as the new drummer a year ago, the band decided on a name change.

“We kind of had a new start with a different kind of lineup and different influences,” Lacey said. “We just wanted to change [the name] because we were changing so much as a band. We felt the old name wouldn’t make sense anymore.”

After building a fan following in San Diego, Outlook is now focusing on recording some of its new songs at Hurley studios in Costa Mesa.

“We’re still working on getting it mixed and mastered and the new EP should be out in June,” English said.

Better Off Records, a new record label starting up in San Diego, has been discussing a contract with the band after the owners saw one of Outlook’s shows.

“They’ll be helping out with recording costs, touring, booking shows, getting the music out and just promoting us,” Lambert said.

This deal would give the band free studio time, which the band plans to use to finish up its new LP. Once they finish with that, they feel that touring should be their next step.

“Hit the road, tour as much as we can, go to different cities as much as we can, be in different shows as much as we can; that’s our future,” Lacey said.

Over its two-year development, Outlook has found that it is vital to find other bands with similar styles to support each other, so the band cane join a variety of shows and play for audiences that appreciate its genre of music. Yet, a strong determination is even more important.

“If you just sit there and wonder how its all going to happen, then its never going to happen,” Lambert said. “At some point, you have to go out there and be assertive.”