Two Moscow artists held a double release party in Pullman last Friday to debut their albums and perform live in front of supporters.
Bart Budwig and Cooper Trail grew up in the Moscow area and said they have a passion for music.
Budwig said his family used to play carols on brass instruments in their neighborhood during Christmas time. He said he also played the trumpet in high school and with the University of Idaho Jazz Band for two years.
At age 18, Budwig picked up his mom’s old guitar and began playing and writing songs.
Now, the 27-year-old works out of his own recording studio, creating music and finding inspiration from life experiences.
Budwig’s new album “Whisky Girl” is a mixture between country, Americana, and a splash of folk music.
The inspiration for the music style came from listening to an album by Seattle artist Sera Cahoone, he said.
“It really changed my view on what country is,” Budwig said.
Most of the songs he writes are inspired from past experiences.
“I write my songs in a very personalized way,” he said.
He said the song “Whisky Girl” was written based on a former love interest who liked to drink whisky and later moved to Texas. .
Budwig said his goal for this album was to create something he could stand behind and be proud of.
“I just try to make the best album I can possibly make,” he said. “I’m not trying to be original. I want to make beautiful songs. I want to change someone’s opinion on music.”
In the future, Budwig said he wants to play for NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concerts.
Budwig and Trail originally had a connection through a close friend. One day, Budwig said he called Trail to ask if he would play the drums for his album.
“I went over to his apartment and we recorded two tracks, and since then it’s just been one thing after another,” Trail said. “I’m pretty lucky to have met him.”
“Cooper is really great,” Budwig said. “He is really creative, willing to try anything, but still down to play something simple.”
Trail, a Moscow High School senior, said he began drumming on pots and pans when he was 3 years old, and his love for music escaladed from there.
“I love prose and poetry almost as much as I love instruments, so I guess you could say I got my start from two things — percussion and books,” he said.
The process of getting to his debut album “Little Mountain,” released under the name Misé, started in ninth grade when he and Budwig recorded a song called “America” for a school project, Trail said.
“I used to ride my bike over to his place and mow his lawn in exchange for time in the studio,” he said. “I saved up a bunch of hours, and later on, we recorded five songs and I released them under my own name.”
Trail sold demos of his songs to his friends, family and peers for $5 before he recorded the album with Budwig.
“Bart is so awesome to work with,” Trail said. “We definitely thrive creatively off of each other.”
“Little Mountain” is folk-inspired indie pop with some electronic influence, Trail said.
He said the song inspiration for this album came from things in Moscow that spark emotion.
“I want people to feel emotion when they listen to my music — bitterness, joy, regret, whatever it may be. A song should instill feelings in people,” he said. “A good song isn’t just pretty. It’s a mirror into which we gaze. It should tell us something about ourselves, and something about the world around us.”
Trail said he wants to record a full-length EP and go on tour within the next two years.
Budwig and Trail said they’d like to give a shout out to Woolly Records owner Luke Taklo, who played a large role in creating their albums.
“Whisky Girl” is available for purchase at bartbudwig.bandcamp.com and on iTunes.
“Little Mountain” is available for purchase at Deadbeat records, Paradise Ridge CD’s and Tapes in Moscow and woollyrecords.bandcamp.com
To listen to some of their songs, check out bartbudwig.com and coopertrail.bandcamp.com.
Emily Vaartstra can be reached at [email protected]
top: photo of bart budwig by ben herndon | courtesy
below: photo of cooper trail by dani bennet | courtesy