Pictured above are Heartstring Stereo band members Dane Marsack, Charlie Orwig, Jeremy Cottam, Matt Hawkins, Vanessa Veneziano and Erik Anderson. The band, which originally formed at Honda, now records and performs its own original music.
(Photo submitted)
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Each song played by local indie-rock band Heartstring Stereo is a reminder of the hidden talents of coworkers and neighbors.
“You never know what talent the person sitting next to you has,” said Vocalist and Guitarist Erik Anderson.
The group, which has written and released original music since forming in 2018, had a rag-tag beginning of sorts within the walls of Honda Research & Development.
Anderson said Heartstring Stereo began when he, Bass Guitarist Charlie Orwig, Drummer Matt Hawkins and Guitarist Dane Marsack spent a night “jamming out together” through Honda’s music society.
He said the group quickly found themselves squeezing in more sessions “guerrilla style,” often spending their lunch breaks playing in an unfinished bathroom filled with auto parts, still wearing their Honda whites.
The band played covers at Honda shows and other events, but evolved when they decided to pursue creating their own, original music.
Hawkins said it came down to a simple question from Anderson: “Are you guys in or out?”
The band released an EP in fall 2021, Anderson said, and has added members since then in an effort to add “more elements” to their sound.
Jeremy Cottam, a celloist and guitarist who also works at Honda, joined the band in 2020, about halfway through recording its EP. Anderson later asked Vanessa Veneziano, a vocalist he found on social media, to join Heartstring Stereo, too.
While most band members share the Honda connection, their diverse backgrounds come together in a “synergy” that Anderson said is “kind of irresistible.”
Cottam formerly played cello in an orchestra, but was interested in joining a rock band because of his history playing guitar in high school.
He said he enjoys the challenge of “finding spaces where a cello could fit” in rock songs rather than orchestral music.
Likewise, Veneziano also said she appreciated the opportunity to push herself and become “more versatile.” She moved just over a year ago to the U.S. from Italy, where she performed pop-leaning covers, often for weddings.
Anderson said the group gels so well together because each member is willing to “leave the door open” to whatever might happen during practice.
The band generally practices twice a week in Veterans Auditorium, where “anybody can bring a song up and it can go any way,” Anderson said. He said there is a lot of improvising and each member “puts their sauce on it.”
After the obstacles created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the band said it is especially nice to be in a room together where they can try out new ideas.
Throughout lockdowns and surges of the pandemic, Anderson said Heartstring Stereo tried meeting online over Zoom and emailing ideas to one another. Eventually, they got to the roots of a garage band and donned masks while they played in Anderson’s garage, with the door open.
Now, the band is taking their music to the community and sharing the joy of live performances.
Tonight, the band will perform at the Avalon Theatre for an indie-rock night also featuring Columbus-based bands Project Rewind and Sonic Skyways.
Several band members highlighted the fun they’ve had performing live – whether at the now-defunct Tree Bar in Columbus or at festivals in Michigan – as some of their favorite memories together.
While each musician still has a day job, Marsack, who is from West Liberty, said it is special that people are willing to pay to see them perform.
“We joke that we measure our earnings in coffee,” Anderson added.
Even more special, they said, is getting to see the excitement people share over music.
Veneziano said it can feel surreal to see audience members dancing and singing along to the lyrics of Heartstring Stereo’s original songs.
Anderson said he’s also enjoyed seeing the passion for live performances spread to Marysville, especially as more and more venues open. While “you used to have to go to Columbus” to see talented musicians on stage, he said you can easily do so now in Union County.
It’s a trend he hopes to see continue.
“Live music is magical,” Anderson said.