New Artist – Vinyl Mag

New Artist Spotlight: Wim Tapley

Posted on November 9, 2021November 11, 2022 by Emily Gainous

After making the move from Virginia only a few months ago, singer-songwriter Wim Tapley has started making a name for himself here in Athens. He wasted no time once he started attending the University of Georgia in the fall, as he was already playing gigs around town within his first month in the state.

Wim’s music can be considered folk/rock with his own twist that incorporates Americana and pop that fits his raw, real and confident voice. He is a talented multi-instrumentalist with his own creative direction in every aspect of his music career. He produces his own music including his recent EP The Woodlands, which is impressively played, recorded, and produced all by himself. In this EP, Wim uses elements of fuzzed-out guitars, pianos, horns, and his unique vocals to take on the genre of folk-pop while using inspiration from musicians such as Bill Withers, Chris Stapleton, and Ed Sheeran.

Not only is Wim’s music strikingly inspiring and unique, but he is also a new, bright light in the Athen’s music scene. He loves to attend other band’s shows in support, and he is always trying to make new connections around town and play as often as he can. He has already built an impressive fanbase and draws a crowd at every location he plays, including the 40 Watt Club. His self-generated motivation shows through his discography, his lively performances, and his continued effort to create new things and express himself and his love for various genres of music.

Wim’s last solo gig for the foreseeable future is at Akademia Brewing Co. on Thursday, November 11th. He will still be performing around Athens, but as a band under the name of Wim Tapley & The Cannons who will start playing shows in late November. Wim is definitely an artist to watch coming out of Athens, as he has already taken the city by storm in the short amount of time he’s lived here. With a drive and talent like his, he is surely to rise quickly to the top of the music scene here in Athens and beyond.

Check out Wim on his website here, and keep with him on social media: Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // Youtube // Spotify

Artist to Watch: Rayland Baxter

Posted on February 14, 2016February 14, 2016 by Nikki Smith

After a friend recently saw Rayland Baxter in Atlanta, she convinced me to listen to his most recent EP, SOHO. It’s been four years since Baxter released his debut, full-length album, Feathers & Fishhooks. Most of the tracks on SOHO were previously featured in Baxter’s full-length album, Imaginary Man.

Upon listening to SOHO, it is clear that Baxter finds harmony in simplicity. With a sound that can only be contributed to his musical history in Tennessee, Baxter exhibits subtle, southern guitar riffs and a slight vocal twang. All of these things make up Baxter’s folk-rock persona. It is no surprise that Baxter’s father, known as William Baxter, worked with artists Bob Dylan and Ryan Adams among others. Furthermore, Baxter has come into his own style of feel-good folk albums that seem to embody the spirit of the southeastern mountains.

SOHO opens with “Mr. Rodriguez.” With a fluid acoustic sound, Baxter harmonizes with his equally smooth vocals and soft inflections. His single, “Yellow Eyes” follows; the track previously appeared on Imaginary Man, accompanied with a soft drumbeat and subtle female vocals. However, SOHO focuses strictly on Baxter’s stripped down solo sound. “Oh My Captain” continues the slow, somber style with a an uplifting chorus that allures its listener to match Baxter’s powerful vocals and signature whistle.

Equally as impressive as his sound are Baxter’s lyrics. It is quite obvious that SOHO, or any of Baxter’s albums for that matter, is not strictly about a man and his guitar but about an experience that Baxter wants to poetically share with his listeners. Baxter seems to elicit the story-telling talents of Leonard Cohen. This is especially true in “Freakin Me Out.” SOHO ends with a cover of My Morning Jacket’s “Bermuda Highway.”

My only qualm with SOHO is that it is too short. While the chance to catch Baxter in Georgia has passed, he is scheduled to play at Bonnaroo 2016 in Manchester, Tennessee.

5/5

Superbody x Vinyl Mag

Posted on November 17, 2015November 17, 2015 by Nikki Smith

Robert McCurry and Caleb Dills of Superbody recently released their first album, Hades Land. With a deep and dreamy synth pop style, the boys from Chattanooga have made multiple appearances in Athens, Georgia. McCurry and Dills briefly talk about their fateful history and possible upcoming albums with an air of modest humor.

VM: Superbody is a relatively new project for you two and also pretty successful. What are the challenges, if any, of beginning this new duo?

Robert: Hearing the words “success” and “Superbody” in the same sentence makes my head hurt. I would rather not expand upon the details of the achievements or disappointments of this project at this time.

VM: You guys have a lot of help with your music videos from various friends. What is the creative process like when working with other people to get your vision across? “Wings 4 Two” and “Call Me That” really coincide with your experimental style.

Caleb: Yes, the multimedia undertakings of Superbody have so far been aided by extraordinary acquaintances who happen to share our same vision. If I could afford a video camera you would not be asking me this question.

VM: How did you two get together to form Superbody? And how did you come into your own style?

C: We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again. We started making music at Ricky’s Crab House on 5^th and Broad. Robert had a tune. I had a beat. The end.

VM: Although you two are from Chattanooga, you play a lot in Athens. Is there a difference between the audience’s responses in the two cities? Is there any particular reason you like to play in Athens, as opposed to Chattanooga?

R: I love my children here in Athens, Georgia. I’ve developed a paternal relationship with the youth of Athens in the past few months. They give. I take.

VM: I noticed at your show in Athens that you were selling tapes of Hades Land? Why that medium? Do you also sell CD’s?

C: One crisp autumn morning, the type that you could take a bite out of if you really wanted, the cassette tapes for Hades Land appeared on our doorstep. I will gladly sell anything with our faces on it for pure profit, especially if that product is a gift. If you have any gifts for us that bear our likeness please do not hesitate to reach us by electronic mail at superbodymusic@gmail.com

VM: You recently released your first full-length album, Hades Land, any talk of upcoming releases and new material?

C: If the stars align and we don’t get drafted into the war, you can expect some new media sometime in the future.

VM: Based on your experience with your first album, is there anything you’d like to improve or change for your next album?

R: First off, we’d like to get this stray pack of dogs out of our studio! If you listen to Hades Land very closely you’ll hear ‘em! Those damned things are a headache and a half!