www.ladysmithnews.com Ladysmith News Thursday, October 23, 2014 - A11 Has been playing guitar since 11 years old Holcombe teen guitarist ‘Feels the Sound’ on release of first music CD By Luke Klink mont song “Porch Swingin,’” studio. A Holcombe teen has just recorded the acoustic instrumental “Rolling “I think it has turned out really and released his first CD. Sage Leary Along,” the rock song “The Alche- well,” said Leary, noting the song was only 14 years old when he com- mist,” and the electric instrumental “Porch Swing Blues” was recorded posed the music for and played gui- “Phases of the Moon.” mostly in just one take, a nearly un- tar on his new all original recording The Learys say they are extremely heard of feat in today’s digital music titled “Feel the Sound.” proud of their son. recording world. All nine tracks were written by “I think the final product is abso- When he does not have a six-string Leary, an accomplished guitarist, lutely amazing. He has these song in hand, Leary enjoys types of out- singer and songwriter. He soars on ideas in his mind and now to se them door activities; fishing, fly fishing & the CD, playing instrumental rock, published in a professional medium fly tying, snowboarding, wakeboard- Latin, , blues-rock and acoustic it is just incredible,” Mary Leary ing, mountain biking, hiking, climb- blues. The budding musician clearly said. ing, and learning new kinds of music has been influenced by guitar greats “We love listening to it,” Mark and other instruments. like Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Leary said. Leary is already halfway through Jimmy Page and Tommy Emmanu- “It is my favorite music to listen enough new material to record his el. to. It is my favorite CD of all time,” second album. His second album The effort has been described as Mary Leary said. “Whenever I need will have a blues-rock theme with a “bold instrumental album [that] my spirits lifted, I put it on.” several tracks featuring vocals. blends elements of rock, blues, Lat- The recording was laid down The CD is available through the in, funk and acoustic blues.” With his last May and officially released last musician’s website at www.sage- guitar, Leary relates timeless themes month. leary.com, Morgan Music, Volume of love, hope and passion. Inspira- The release was recorded and One and Toad House. It is also tion from nature is balanced with mixed by Evan Middlesworth at available by digital download at CD personal experience, introspection Pine Hollow Audio in Eau Claire Baby, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and and youthful optimism. The album and mastered at Hanzsek A/V in Se- Rhapsody. rocks, rolls and grooves. attle, Wash. It was produced by the Leary’s website offers song sam- “At first, I was worried about artist’s father Mark Leary. ples from “Feel the Sound” and the spending an entire summer in a room In the studio, Leary was backed up ability to purchase a physical CD. writing and mixing, but overall I am by Mike Malone on drums and per- He plans to release a series of per- glad I spent the time. It is a quality cussion and UW-Eau Claire music formance and instructional videos album that will last the rest of my student Jordan Jenkins on bass. UW- starting in October to offer a stream life. And I did it when I was only 14 Eau Claire music student Evan Mid- of new material for his growing fan years old,” Leary said. dlesworth played bass on the song base. For more information go to Leary, now 15-years-old, is the “Phases of the Moon. Middlesworth www.sageleary.com. Leary can be son of Mark and Mary Leary of Hol- also is the owner of the recording contacted at [email protected]. combe. His specialty is on electric and acoustic guitar, which is clearly evident on “Feel the Sound.” Leary started playing guitar for his 11th birthday. His aunt Linda Had- jimarkos of Eau Claire bought him his first 10 guitar lessons in the fall of 2010. She even drove him the 120 mile round trip from Holcombe to Morgan Music in Eau Claire each week for his lessons. RECORDS FIRST CD — Sage Leary plays his guitar. The Holcombe teen, an accomplished musician, recently He played by ear until age 11, and wrote, played on and released his first CD entitled “Feel the Sound.” then he took lessons at Morgan Mu- sic from age 11-14. all off.” added a lot of work to it,” Mark the listener. He has been instructed along the There were countless decisions Leary said. The musician is currently a sopho- way by Jim Lincoln, Matthew Ma- Leary had to make throughout the Leary, who dreams of a career as more at eAchieve Academy, a pub- bis, Sean Carlson, Cathy Reitz, Mike recording process, including what to a professional musician, is quickly lic online school in the Waukesha Malone, all of Eau Claire. Also, he leave in and what to take out. There emerging as a powerful creative School District. Much of the work learned much from noted musi- were other variables like tweaking force on the music scene. He is a the “straight-A student” did writing cian Mario Friedel of Ladysmith in guitar and microphone settings and shining, young talent with a fresh and rehearsing the songs on the new preparation for a Music in the Park final audio EQ and mastering of the new sound, whose style incorporates CD was done as part of his eAchieve performance. recording. a variety of genres, including ele- Academy Fine Arts Independent He labored over the songs from Mark Leary realized his son’s ments of blues, rock, boogie, Latin, Study Option class. rough draft to finished product. He music potential based on rough re- funk, bluegrass, and finger-picking “I thought it would be cool to do practiced lead and rhythm backups. cordings of the music saved on blues. He boldly ventures my own album,” he said. He crafted the solos. He practiced. smartphones. It was a long process into a realm of musical diversity. He The songlist includes the acoustic “He practiced them a lot, some- to polish the songs so they had a is as comfortable playing his acous- instrumental “Mountain Song,” the times 50 hours a week,” said Mark professionally crafted beginning, tic blues/boogie originals as he soar- number “Thursday Morn- Leary. “It really was unimaginable middle and end. ing into the stratosphere with emo- ing,” the rock song “Still Believing,” that he was able to go through the Mark Leary said, “If we didn’t do tionally charged solos on his electric and the funk recording “Feel the process of recording an album while something with these they won’t last guitar. Leary combines a highly in- Sound.” The recording also features NEW CD — A new recording entitled “Feel the Sound” was recently re- still going to school, doing A-plus and will all be lost forever.” tricate, yet fluid playing style with a the songs the Latin influenced “Latin leased by Sage Leary, a high school sophomore from Holcombe. He wrote, work in all his classes and pulling it “Sage is a perfectionist, and that youthful honesty that deeply touches Sunset,” the acoustic/acoustic Pied- performed and recorded the CD while still a 14-year-old freshman.

It’s just a scratch.

Or is it?

AREA ARTIST — Holcombe teen Sage Leary, who has performed locally at venues like Music in the Park in Ladysmith, released his first album last month. He is currently halfway through new material to record his second album. The musician has a website at www.sageleary.com.

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