From sitting in their rooms playing the guitar and drums to taking a trip to Chicago for recording a new album, two local individuals are using music, not for profitable gains, but for the love of performing and bringing communities together.
Andrew and Alex Baughman, natives of the New Market area, were exposed to music at a young age as their mom introduced them to piano lessons as well as participating in church events where playing music came in an abundance. After they graduated high school, they started recording music in a band called Faceless Ones. They eventually decided to go another direction and formed the band Stag & Owl, however, it wasn’t until high school when Alex got the inspiration to start playing and making music.
“What really got me into music was seeing someone who I thought was cool and seeing them play an instrument” Alex Baughman said.
Even though being young and new to the industry world, Stag & Owl already has clarity on what the band wants from music. They have already played live in front of crowds and been on stages. But playing isn’t necessarily Stag & Owl’s biggest goal.
“The whole idea is write the music and create the art, try to spread the music and if you like the music great, if not at least you listened,” Alex Baughman said.
“It’s a long term goal to play on the stages where we spent our teenage years watching the bands we love,” Andrew Baughman added.
Being on stage, especially when you have to talk or perform, many people may get nervous or experience stage-fright if not properly prepared. But Stag & Owl saw it as “liberating,” being able to stand up in front of people and share his emotions through playing music and conveying a message that other people receive.
Although there are countless artists and bands out there, Stag & Owl tries not to imitate anyone — their desire is to make their own unique sound.
“There are so many bands out there that there will always be a comparison,” Alex said about his inspiration for writing his music. “How can I evoke a similar feeling when I listened to a song or band?”
Stag & Owl is composed of two young kids who started making music following a dream pursuing what they love. How they got their name is of the unorthodox kind.
“We needed a band name,” Alex Baughman said. “It was kind of a cop-out.”
Alex wears a necklace that has a stag on the front which is a symbol of “talks of masculinity.
“It originated as animal’s week, aspire to and identify with,” Andrew said about his relationship with Owl. “It’s not so much I’m Stag and he’s Owl, it’s just more of a spiritual thing.”
As for the future of Stag & Owl, they’re about to fly to Chicago and record their latest album. They’re hoping to start a Spotify soon for fans to stream, and the album is expected to be released by the end of spring 2017.
