FHS’ local rock band, White Wall, has finally released their debut album, “State of Mind.” As of February 29th, 2024, fans were able to listen to 8 new harmonic and vibrant songs. These songs are a chaotic menagerie of rock written by FHS alumni Aurelius Mueller, Jefferson Uzzle, Johan Dronsick, Jude Rittenhouse, and Zac Moylan.
It is always shocking how well this group of nonprofessional teenage musicians can compose such catchy and rhythmic music. Each song on “State of Mind” has its own special kick that will at least have you tapping your foot and swaying your body back and forth. While all eight songs on the album are beautifully put together, three songs in particular stand out above all the rest.
First of all, “Wanderlust,” written by the band’s pianist, Aurelius Mueller, has an almost classical feel in the instrumental that swiftly transitions into something more contemporary as the song progresses. It has possibly the most unique vibe out of any of the songs on the album. It quickly switches between a slow emotional feel and a rhythm that is more reminiscent of 20th-century soul music, which is an incredibly impressive feat to achieve as seamlessly as White Wall manages it.
The second-best song of the album would be immediately recognizable to anyone who had the opportunity to attend the 2023 FHS talent show. White Wall performed a rough version of “Prodigal,” another song where the bond between all five of the members is immediately clear. In the official recording of the song, you can almost hear the connection that each instrument has to the other. Moylan and Dronsick use their talents as guitarists to perfectly set the stage for Mueller to steal the show with his skills on the keyboard, all the while Uzzle and Rittenhouse flawlessly support the rest of the band with their abilities on the drums and the bass guitar, respectively. The song ends with an incredible harmony among all five of the band members, making it feel impossible to stay in your seat.
Unsurprisingly, the best song on the album is “State of Mind.” Each musician is given their own special opportunity to prove how talented they truly are. Not a moment of the song is dull, and it goes to show how far White Wall has come since they first began writing music. The song is a very clear culmination of the individual artistic talents of each member of the band. The song features a guitar solo from Dronsick that rivals that of many professional musicians, and allows the drummer and bassist to shine more than any other song in the album. Seeing “State of Mind” played live is an amazing experience, and you can feel the genuine passion behind each note, both in an audience and simply listening with headphones.
The album is a statement against the stereotype that high schoolers or teenagers can’t make good music, and is worth a listen for anyone who has the time. Every White Wall fan is absolutely thrilled about what they are going to do next, and there is no doubt that it will be just as impressive as their debut album, “State of Mind.”
