Junior Elliott Obermaier doesn’t think people’s love for music should die in college. That’s why he created Bloomington Delta Music Club, an IU student music networking organization dedicated to giving local musicians who aren’t involved in the Jacobs School of Music or a full-time band an option to continue playing music.
“Music shouldn't die in college and people who want to play casually should and can do that,” Obermair said.
Because of how much the group has grown since its creation in 2019, some members and groups under BDMC have started releasing their own music and covers. BDMC released its cover of “Sour Candy” by Melt on March 11. This is the club’s first official single and it is available on all major music platforms.
The club first covered and performed “Sour Candy” during WIUX's Pledge Drive in October. Senior and BDMC co-founder Samuel Boland said the group then recorded the song in their setlist for the IU Dance Marathon benefiting the Riley Hospital for Children. BDMC will be releasing the rest of the setlist in the coming weeks.
The BDMC members who covered “Sour Candy” consisted of Julia Rusyniak on vocals, Briggs Blevins and Obermaier playing guitars, Jack Wanninger playing bass, John Rusyniak on keyboard, Brian Healey on drums, Dominick Heyob playing trombone and Caleb Abshire playing trumpet. Audio engineering was done by Abshire and Blevins.
Rusyniak said she was one who suggested playing “Sour Candy.” She said the song was incredible and she brought the idea of getting some members of BDMC together to her brother, John Rusyniak. They performed it on a WIUX broadcast and then decided to record it, she said.
BDMC was especially excited to put their own twist on the song. Rusyniak said BDMC added in more instruments and a belting vocal aspect. She also said her and her brother have been creating their own style of music since they were young.
“We've developed our own style that has hints of jazz, hints of pop, hints of folk and all of our favorite genres in one,” Rusyniak said. “I think the main part was John and I helped incorporate our style into the song.”
Since its creation, BDMC has grown to 166 musicians of varying genres and instruments, Boland said. In the past year, however, the organization has had to maintain strict guidelines to ensure safety during the coronavirus pandemic, Obermaier said.
Members still meet in person, but they stay 6 feet apart and wear masks, Obermaier said. They also rehearsed outside whenever possible. Obermaier said members had to watch a COVID-19 safety video and pass a test before they were able to attend any rehearsals or meetings.
Heyob said horn players had to place covers over the bells of their instruments to limit spread of unnecessary air. He said the covers do not affect the quality of sound.
“This entire process, despite all the precautions, ran smoothly and didn't feel very limiting and it didn't feel like it suffered because of COVID,” Heyob said “We were very responsible with it and we managed to put out a good product.”
BDMC members are still eager to create music in the pandemic because they know it’s more important than ever, Boland said.
“Music is a special way of connecting with people in a world where the connection with others is kind of hard to come by,” Boland said. “I think that everybody is hungry enough for music and for connection, that they don't mind playing outside on a cold day because they want to be there playing.”
A previous version of this article misspelled "BDMC."
