Wilhelm continues to develop its creativity
By Holly Neumann
What began as four students playing music in backyards and on front porches may lead to a debut album.
In September 2016, Echo Watters, Erin Thompson, Corey Ziemann and Kolden Krueger started the band.
They all graduated from Iola-Scandinavia High School and are now attending the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
The group plays a variety of music that spans many genres.
“The first place we played was at the school,” said Thompson. “We were rookies then.”
Now the group plays around Oshkosh and in central Wisconsin during the summer.
They all enjoy performing.
“I feel like music is very emotional for people,” said Thompson. “I really like seeing people engaged. I like the electric energy. That is the best.”
“I like others to hear what I do,” said Ziemann. “Being able to create music myself is a really big goal. All my role models are musicians. This is my way of connecting with them.”
Krueger likes writing melodies, beats and playing that music live.
“I like the creativity of it all. It is so much fun,” he said. “I like playing off the crowd and seeing their reactions.”
“I really like feeling our potential,” said Watters. “When something clicks for us all at the same time, I love that. It feels good to say that we are musicians, we are performers.”
They agree that they never imagined they would be where they are today.
“People know who we are,” said Thompson. “That is so unreal to me because when we first started, we were not very good. Now people really enjoy our music.”
“This summer we have a show almost every weekend,” added Ziemann. “It is all surreal.”
Krueger thinks the band has taken off in an astoundingly short period of time.
“We are opening for bigger bands and getting the chance to meet them afterwards. They critique us and give us tips and advice,” he said. “I think that alone has took us all by surprise.”
The current goal for Wilhelm is to complete its first album.
From there, who knows where they will go.
“We are at transformative stages in our lives right now,” said Watters. “We are all in college and trying to figure out our lives. We will ride this out as long as we can and see where it goes.”