For Des Moines-based emo-punk act The Lifestyle, the drive to make it out of the basement and into the spotlight has pushed all other commitments to the back burner.

“We’re going to be dropping out of school and trying to follow our dreams, as cheesy as that sounds,” guitarist Adam Horning says.

The Lifestyle started three years ago when the band members were still high school students. Since then, the band has added its youngest member, guitarist Zach Johnson, who should graduate from high school at the end of the year.

In addition to adding a new member, the band’s lineup recently suffered its first casualty. The group’s previous drummer, Jason Junge, was not sure he wanted to drop out of school to focus all of his attention on the band. Bassist Mason Viera says Junge’s departure was an expected and amicable one.

“We kind of pressured him into staying in school,” Viera says. “Jason wasn’t as committed as the rest of us. We’re still friends.”

The band replaced Junge with Milwaukee resident Kyle Rossi, who moved to town during winter break and learned all the songs in only a week of practice.

Viera says that in the past, The Lifestyle has been limited to touring during holiday breaks and summer vacations, but the group now hopes to spend more time on the road. The band has toured the Midwest and East Coast, sharing stages with such bands as Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Midtown and Spitalfield.

It has been difficult to balance the band’s desire to tour extensively, Viera says, with its members’ individual commitments.

“It’s hard when you’re in school,” Viera says. “We’re looking to make it so we can tour as long as possible.”

In spite of the obstacles the band has faced, The Lifestyle has managed to garner the attention of Virgin Records. Viera says the band is taking everything in stride.

“It’s not what you think,” Viera says. “They’re flying in to talk to us and see us play.”

The band has released two EPs, “Battle of a Lifetime” and “Say Goodbye,” and is set to spend time recording at Smart Studios in April. The recording session was arranged by the band’s management company. Viera says the band is in no hurry to record a full-length album.

“We’re waiting until labels start to take interest,” Viera says.

— Joshua Haun contributed to this article.

What: The Lifestyle

Where: Blinks, 323 5th St.

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Cost: $4