With its first EP just re leased, the Raleigh band Star Studies has plans to perform often this spring. The band, with a sound it refers to as “blues-tinged rock,” formed in 2012 and has played at sev eral Triangle locations, such as Local 506, The Keg, 2nd Wind and Kings Barcade.

Star Studies was first known as “Band of Fools,” but instead wanted a name that wasn’t already taken and was more original.

The band members joked about how tedious a process it was to come up with the right name and almost every one they came up with or friends suggested had already been taken.

“We wanted a name where if we happened to grow mu sically, maybe it could come along with us,” said Barry Plemmons, lead guitarist and studio engineer.

Plemmons is a senior in business administration.

Garren Plemmons, Barry’s brother, is a senior in com munications and a Sigma Pi brother. Sigma Pi was the first place the band played together and they perform at least once a semester at their functions.

“That’s always a lot of fun playing for them because in situations like that there are a lot of people with the inten tion of having a good time,” Barry Plemmons said.

Both brothers said they re ally enjoy being in the band together.

“We have our ups and downs working together but we always find the best way to go about things and it’s been really fun,” Barry Plemmons said.

Colin Iwanski is the lead singer and currently doing research at UNC-Chapel Hill, though he plans on making the band his full-time job by July. James Giarelli is the band’s drummer and gradu ated from N.C. State last se mester with a degree in me chanical engineering.

“People ask if I work and I consider this a full time job,” Garren said. Barry built a re cording studio in his home and all of the band members have made investments in both equipment and putting together the EP. Barry said when they started making so many investments in the band, it became more of a profession and business.

“It started as a hobby, as just a fun thing to do, but then it got serious when we quit playing so many covers and started writing our own stuff,” Garren said.

After working on the EP for over a year, they are excited to play many shows this spring. The EP titled “Star Stud ies” has six of their original songs and has been released on iTunes and Spotify. They started their first track for the CD in March of 2013 and it was mastered this January. After recording for such a long time, they are now very eager to play live and intro duce their new music.

“Since our EP is out, we’re excited to get people in Ra leigh to know we’re here,” Garren Plemmons said.

Star Studies also has per formed covers of artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clap ton, Radiohead, Tom Petty and many more.

“We want to be a touch point for people to know our shows are a good place to go for a really good time and we want to get our music out there,” Barry Plemmons said.

They recently performed at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub and Restaurant in downtown Ra leigh on Febuary 13th. For their show on Valentine’s Day at 2nd Wind in Carrboro, the bar featured a special beer for the occasion made by Foot hills Brewery called “Sexual Chocolate.”

The band’s music and news about upcoming shows can be found at www.starstud iesmusic.com