If you've ever seen That Thing You Do or any Behind-the-Scenes special on VH1, you probably have some idea of what it takes to record and produce a music album: laborious hours of lyric-writing, hammering out chord progressions and lots of (expensive) time spent in the studio, playing parts over and over, until everyone in the band finally gets it right in the same take.
Tom Weismantel can attest to the toll it takes on a musician's nerves. He's in a band called Welcome to the Cinema, where recording sessions can become somewhat grueling for the 5-member ensemble. A couple years ago, however, Weismantel discovered a new means of music production that allows for more control, more creativity, and unlimited studio time.
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Weismantel has been making music for most of his life. After picking up his first trombone at the tender age of 11, he discovered a knack for learning instruments and proceeded to teach himself bass guitar, electric guitar, piano, harmonica and drums--in the quieted corner of his parents' basement, of course.
Naturally, it came time for these skills to culminate, so Weismantel grabbed a notebook and starting jotting down lyrics. It was the beginning of a lifestyle. Today, using an assortment of instruments, mics, speakers and software, Weismantel spends most of his time recording and producing under the name Hippocampus. But despite the professionalism of his finished products, the artist says he doesn't spend a lot of money making music.
Naturally, it came time for these skills to culminate, so Weismantel grabbed a notebook and starting jotting down lyrics. It was the beginning of a lifestyle. Today, using an assortment of instruments, mics, speakers and software, Weismantel spends most of his time recording and producing under the name Hippocampus. But despite the professionalism of his finished products, the artist says he doesn't spend a lot of money making music.
Weismantel uses everything from a savvy electronic E-bow to his childhood toy xylophone to create the sounds he envisions, and says the freedom to dream up and create every aspect of a song is one of the most attractive benefits of going solo.
"I prefer to do it alone, honestly, because it's easier. You can just think of an entire song on your own. It's the best feeling in the world to sit back and listen to your song."
"I prefer to do it alone, honestly, because it's easier. You can just think of an entire song on your own. It's the best feeling in the world to sit back and listen to your song."
For now, the musical stylings of Hippocampus take a backseat to a degree in Pharmacy, a part-time job and weekly gigs with Welcome to the Cinema. But as Weismantel creates album after album, honing his craft and marketing it online, he's developing a sound that is uniquely his in every way. An afternoon in Weismantel's studio leaves you wondering: in a society where the music scene is becoming more creative and more competitive by the second, are two heads really better than one?
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