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On the surface, Horn may seem like any regular UConn student. Transferring to UConn prior to his sophomore year, the past three years have been spent attending classes, studying for countless hours in the library and pulling all nighters to finish that paper, all in pursuit of a degree in communication sciences, working campus jobs like at the local Starbucks to occupy time and make some money on the side, and being an active member in school-wide organizations.
So what's the difference? Well for starters, he can play the guitar and play it well. In fact he plays it so well that he was this year's featured artist on UConn's Husky Entertainment, the school's student-run, independent record label. Signed in mid-December, Horn began living a double life. Along with his new recording contract came countless rehearsals, meetings, studio sessions, an instant campus-wide fan base, plenty of sore throats and soon enough, a full band to play with - The Method.
Horn began playing his guitar and singing while he was still attending Benjamin Cardozo High School in his hometown of Queens, N.Y. After arriving in Storrs, he continued his work and began practicing and playing with roommate Adam Rosenfeld, a drummer who is graduating with a Bachelor's in communications, and friend Adam Pennarola, a keyboardist who is entering his seventh semester, pursuing a pre-med degree. The final component of The Method is Horn's cousin, Spencer Gallop, a graduating senior at SUNY New Paltz who plays guitar.
But did Horn ever seeing himself coming this far with his music?
"Definitely not," he said. "Although I always imagined myself doing something with music, I never took it as seriously as I do now. I think all of that comes with age and taking your dreams more seriously. I also think that if I wasn't getting the feedback that I look for from my music then I'd give it up and get a day job."
Now, after plenty of hard work, Mike Horn and The Method have something to show for it - their very first album, "Between the Borders" - something most young musicians could only hope for.
"It was a pretty amazing feeling considering there were so many people who submitted their demos," said Horn. "I've always been confident about my music but I think it really gave myself that extra boost that I needed to take myself to the next level."
"Borders" is a combination of musical attitudes that compliment the band's wide range of talent, but also finds itself easily accessible. With influences such as Jeff Buckley, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Elliott Smith, Mike Horn and The Method have quite a lot going for them.
While usually it is best to compare young talent to other artists to get an idea of the sound, "Borders" is a ten track trip that doesn't stick with one genre, and instead displays what the band is capable of. Their range of talent spans across the album, from the baby-making smoothness of "Don't Let the Words Leave this Room" to the groovin' garage band ballad "Pretty Mind."
"I'm not sure what's eating me inside / what's the deal with ruining our lives / what makes you love / what makes you love?" he sings.
"Borders" finds a hiccup in its listing only once on "Time Stolen," which can seem a bit choppy at times and has the band experimenting with Horn's vocals. In the end, it seems more generic than the rest of the album, but hardly any album goes without a black sheep track.
Being their first LP, the album is still a bit rough around the edges, but all in all, "Borders" is a solid first disc with fresh material. With a bit of polishing, it could certainly hold its own and take the college campus circuit by storm and with a bit of promoting, has the potential to really take off in the music world.
There is still plenty in store for Mike Horn, who's looking to expand upon not only his list of venues, but identifying with a specific musical genre and sound. With a major focus set on developing his and the band's sound and growing more as a group, the future is an open book for Mike Horn and The Method.
"I'm trying to take this whole music thing one step at a time," Horn said. "My main focus is building a fan base by just getting my name out there and playing to whoever and wherever."
At first glance, Mike Horn is just a regular guy, a regular graduate, with a regular Bachelor's degree in communication sciences. He may just seem like that kid who sat next to you in history, or who served you that grande mocha latte, but if you dig a little deeper and read "Between the Borders," you'll see what he's really all about: a man, his guitar and a whole lot of talent.
From the start, the smoothness of Horn's vocals stand out. On "We Can Try," a laid back jam that taps into that Dispatch vibe, the lyrics melt over the background track, giving off a great summer song vibe that will most certainly have you singing along.
"We can try / we can try / we can fall asleep in elevators / instead - Stephen Ortiz, The Daily Campus, 5/6/07
Discography
In Store (LP - 2007)
Red Room (LP - 2006)
Afraid to Lose (EP - 2005)
Photos
Bio
The boundaries are non-existent. In the blur of an ever-growing music industry full of formulaic talent and short-lived careers - Mike Horn and the Method are speeding by and ignoring the exit signs. Blazing their own trail with enthusiasm and exceptional talent on the highway towards success, Mike Horn and the Method are here to stay.
Horn, the bands creator and front man, originally from Queens, NY, continually manifested his creative side while attending the University of Connecticut. Late nights next to at-home recording equipment culminated into two full-length self-produced LPs and a seven song EP.
The same undeniable determination, added to a stage presence capitalized with hilarious facial expressions, landed him and cousin Spencer Gallop performances at a wide range of venues, ranging from Arlene’s Grocery and the Continental to the stages of New York’s famous CBGB’s and The Lion’s Den. His summers consisted of making a name for himself while playing venues spanning the New York area.
Speed bumps suddenly diminished for Horn after being signed to the UConn student-run record label, Husky Entertainment, mid-December of 2006. Along with the new recording contract came a whirlwind of rehearsals, Thursday night meetings, studio sessions, an instant fan base, sore throats, various press and soon enough - a full band.
The Method, consisting of Adam Rosenfeld, Gallop and J.P. Fernandez, infuses Horn’s songs with talent that is inimitable.
“In Store” is the band’s first venture into the professional music world. Its high intensity rips the pants off conformity with a unique sound unlike any of today’s talent. “In Store” is a combination of musical attitudes that compliment the band’s wide range of genres, but is also relative to any type of audience.
“Pretty Mind” jumpstarts the album, showcasing Adam Rosenfeld’s unseen talent of rhythmic persuasion that can only be emphasized by Horn’s spontaneous lyrics. By the third track, “It All Kicks In,” Horn’s questions, “What makes you love?” The answer lies within Gallop’s riffs that showcase his diverse guitar skills combined with solo styling.
There is not a specific topic that litters “In Store,” a strength that works to Horn’s advantage, setting him and his band apart from the ever self-conscious - even obsessive - emotional pile-ups in today’s music industry. With the addition of J.P. Fernandez on the bass, the final element is in place, sealing a solid future for the Mike Horn and the Method.
There is still plenty in store for Horn - who’s looking to expand upon not only his list of venues, but identifying with a specific musical genre and a sound. His range of talent spans across “In Store,” from the blues ballad “Don’t Let the Words Leave this Room,” to the mellower “The Only One to Blame.” With all eyes set on developing their sound and growing more as a group, the future is an open book for Mike Horn and the Method. The borders are ready to be broken.
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