INSIDE THE MUSIC

INSIDE THE MUSIC_ BY LUCINA MENDEZ

Is it fair to say that musicans in the Minnnesota are a dime a dozen?

In Anoka county they have live acoustic acts at Dunn Brothers coffee in Coon Rapids,. Pot Bellies sandwhich shop in Fridley, and the Chili’s in Anoka. From the acoustic guitar player strumming for the weekend lunch rush to the karaoke host at Ham Lake Lane (who sounds like a hybrid of Garth Brooks and Clint Black) Minnesota seems awash in music.

Music is a big deal to a lot of people. It’s what we listen to on our way to work in the morning. It’s what we sing in the shower, and dance to at our weddings, cry to at funerals.

What is it that keeps the dream alive for people like 20 year old keyboardist and singer Lashaya Meyers of the christian band Heart Like a Hero? “I started this hobby because I love music and my husband needed a bass player in his band.” Lashaya explained when asked what inspired her to become involved with music.

Lashaya has been a member of her husband’s band since 1997. According to their Myspace music page statistics, they’ve received 15,524 plays, for three of the songs they have posted on their website www.myspace.com/heartlikeahero. Their next show is at The upper room at First Baptist church On Dec, 18th 2009 in Cokato, MN.

Her favorite thing about being in a band is playing shows and watching people enjoy her music, which they describe as happy-hardcore /screamo/pop. What she doesn’t like is practicing as she says there never seems to be enough time.

Lashya and her band mates, husband Josh Meyers who performs lead guitar and screams, Drummer Kyle Zahorski, Brian Olson who sings and plays guitar, and new member: bass-guitarist Tom, practice three to six hours a week when they don’t have a show, and 9 hours a week when they do.

Minnesota has produced a number of famous performers, such as Bob Dylan and Prince. More recently, the Twin Cities has played a role in the national hip-hop scene with artists such as Doomtree and Atmosphere, and who knows, maybe someday Layshaya Meyers and her bandmates will be synounoumous with Minnesota music greatness too.

When Lashaya was asked if she could see herself doing this hobby for the rest of her life, she says, “We would love to play music for a living; we just have to get famous first.”