A student at Mercer County Community College in New Jersey majoring in computer science, Adam Oltman Porcher has also served as a courier and legal assistant. Living in Ewing, NJ, Adam Porcher is a fan of the music sub-genre known as math rock.

Although it may seem there is no overlap between the worlds of mathematics and rock ‘n’ roll, there actually is a connection. Math rock songs employ unusual time signatures, such as 3/2 and 11/8, which produce rhythms that are more complex than the usual 4/4. Time signatures may also change several times within a song, resulting in music that stops and starts with little warning.

Other characteristics of math rock include stripped-down production focused on drums, bass, and guitar, with little reverb. Songs may also feature lyrics in multiple sections and long instrumental passages, sometimes used in place of lead vocals. One of the genre’s best-known albums, Spiderman by Slint, is predominately instrumental.

While Slint came out of Louisville, Kentucky, other centers of math rock include Chicago, North Carolina, Washington, DC, and New York. Seattle, Sacramento, and Los Angeles have also produced hits. Overseas, math rock has been especially popular in Japan.