Dr. Andrew “Ryan” Book by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer Andrew Book has been a music instructor at Sandhills Community College for 15 years, and chair of its Fine Arts department for 11 of them. When he took over as chair, Book believed he could create a student experience to rival that of top-tier music conservatories. “As a student, some of my best memories were directors of festivals hiring

Aftermath by Emilee Phillips || Writer and Content Producer In true rockstar fashion, the band Aftermath is all about giving a memorable performance, jumping on bars and interacting with the crowd. Aftermath formed almost seven years ago and covers 70s, 80s, 90s and early 2000s alternative and hard rock. The band consists of four members: Matt Davis (guitar), Franklin Branch (lead singer), Jerry Davis (drums/vocals) and Brian Carter (bass). When

Momma Molasses by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer When she was young, Momma Molasses thought that the music industry was only filled with marketing-driven stars. It wasn’t until later that she realized the value of notes rooted deep in her own history as a Carthage, Moore County native. “I’ve always just played like a mix of old-time, bluegrass, country, whatever,” she said. “Though, when I was younger I was

Alex Weiler by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer Alex Weiler has been singing and writing songs since childhood, and that has evolved throughout a musical journey shaped by experiences with autism, physical disabilities, and a passion for creating music that connects with others on a deep emotional level. That is rooted in the numerous challenges Weiler has faced in life. “I’m queer, I’m trans, I’m autistic, and I’m physically

Tim Russell by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer Tim Russell did the corporate thing on someone else’s terms. Now he’s setting his own direction. He spent his early career traveling around the world developing international business strategies and offices for education companies, with his longest tenure as vice president of NewsBank’s international division, but he always brought his music with him. “ I did pursue an executive career,” said Russell.

Weymouth by Emilee Phillips || Content Producer / Writer Sound Bytes with Molar Marathon Punk is here to stay according to the band Weymouth. The band began in 2020 and has evolved to its current four members: Dustin Burrell (guitar), JP D’Argenio (drummer), José Gonzalez (guitar) and Zane Walsh (vocalist) all who are eager to grow as musicians.  This local band’s sound is on the heavier side when compared to

Jonathan Robinson by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer Growing up in Richmond County, Jonathan Robinson was drawn to writing more than anything, but when he found guitar as a junior in high school, he began to pen a new story. “I was kind of late to the music thing, but at like 16 or 17 I started playing guitar and just got obsessed.”  He began to use that new

Peter Lamb and the Wolves by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer Peter Lamb is not timid about his passion for jazz and the saxophone. Music permeates his family, but the instrument choice wasn’t a sure thing. Lamb was born in San Francisco, where his father was a well-connected musician who roomed with Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead, knew Ken Kesey and Janis Joplin and played at The Fillmore,

Van Horton by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer Van Horton is riding the (synth)wave. Originally from Sanford, he learned his first instrument, viola, around age 5, but he found his love for percussion in short order. By the time he turned 8, he was a percussionist in the Sandhills Concert Band, and continued to play in concert bands until he was a teenager. Horton learned how to play guitar

Dorian and Lou by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer Music is communication. Jazz music is a conversation more intimate than most. For partners, a married couple like Dorian Devins and Lou Rainone, it creates a chance to understand each other that is foreign to most relationships. Dorian is the vocalist and Lou is the pianist in the jazz duo Dorian and Lou. Dorian and Lou both grew up with

Zach Person by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer Zach Person is getting back to what he loves. When trying to create a body of work and make a living with it, artists can find themselves falling into the expectation of what can sell. “I started writing, or trying to write, a lot of stuff that was what I thought people would want to hear or thought would be commercially

Ceirra Doll by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer  As director of Rogers-Pickard Funeral Home in Sanford, Ceirra Doll recognizes life can be short, but that was a perspective she learned. Ceirra Doll thought for years that her voice shouldn’t be heard. Her singing career began in middle school, but she faced a barrier that so many can relate to as teenagers – a clique. “Every time I would have

Chelsea Davis by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer  Many retirees move to Moore County for its beauty or the plethora of golf courses. It’s not many musicians who move here in the midst of their career, but that’s exactly what Chelsea Davis did. At the tail end of 2020, she decided to leave the lights and hum of Los Angeles for our corner of the world. And the more

Whiskey Pines by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer  We all start somewhere. If we put in the work, we can make a name for ourselves. Bobby Hancock and Tim Stelmat – as Whiskey Pines – have done that. The two have each been playing for more than 20 years. Stelmat began as a drummer, a path his father walked before him, and Hancock’s road started with the four strings

Katatonik by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer  Sometimes, things just seem to fall into place. When it happens over and over, you get the five-piece band, Katatonik. Matt Battise, Corey Henderson, Kevin O’Reilly, Davis Letchworth and Erik Cougle are Katatonk. A chance meeting at open mic night at O’Donnell’s Pub in Southern Pines started it all. “Let’s start a band,” O’Reilly said to Cougle one evening. “I don’t have

Ice Cream for Breakfast by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer  Anthony Parks and John McDonald started as work friends, both working at the Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant in downtown Southern Pines since 2011. As happens at work, the two quickly realized a shared love of music and formed a band called Dirt Road Senate. Over the years, for practice, maybe more for the joy of it, McDonald and Parks

Zach Harris by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer  Zach Harris wants to bring people together, or “spark the love,” as he likes to say. Inspiration began at home. His father was a trumpeter during his time at NC A&T University, and his passion carried through to his family. Harris grew up playing drums, his brother plays piano, his sister plays bass and his mother sings. Together they created a

Julia Golden by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer  Julia Golden has been performing since she was 6, but, in those days, she was singing the likes of “Tomorrow” as a young musical theater actress. At the age of 10, she began writing her own songs. Still, she pursued theater and was accepted into an arts academy in Michigan. But she always heard the call of her guitar. At 15,

Rob Dufresne by Emilee Phillips || Writer, The Sway  You may recognize the voice or the face of Rob Dufrense, a musician who is part of a few bands that play locally. When we say a few, we mean we lost count at six. “It’s just such a rich music community,” he says. “Even the music that isn’t necessarily for me, I like that it’s here.” Rob began taking music

Mary Stone by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer  When Mary Stone isn’t on stage performing, she graciously makes that space available for other Moore County musicians. You can find her many nights with her keyboard and guitar, atop her cajón, playing originals, covers and signature mashups of songs from different eras and genres. With her band-mate Cierra Doll, the two perform as Stone Dolls, and she sits in with

Scarlet Tantrum by Frank Daniels IV || Executive Producer  Laura Rose has been singing all her life. As happens to us all, we eventually graduate into adulthood and need to find a way to “make it.” When that happens to an artist, the real challenge is finding the balance between making a living and the passion to create. But there is a third way, and Rose leaned in. At 17,