Music

Bo's Big Comeback

Colfax native polishes Kickstarted pop record

Nikki Lanzer |

OH TO BE BO. Colfax native Bo Weber just put out a poppy new song called “California Babe” with more on the way.
OH TO BE BO. Colfax native Bo Weber just put out a poppy new song called “California Babe” with more on the way.

From musically inept to solo pop artist – Colfax native Bo Weber has proven he has what it takes to latch on to a passion and roll with it … all the way to California.

The 27-year-old musician released his first single, “California Babe,” this August, a track he recorded and produced himself. Weber lacked any trace of musical skill when he decided to join his buds in forming the pop-punk group The Silver Heart Club upon high school graduation. But with plenty of practice and a whole lot of heart, the music-world newbie had successfully taught himself to play the piano, guitar, drums, and many other instruments in just a couple of years.

“The sounds were warm and the vibe was comforting. Now I’ve spent hundreds of hours experimenting with new digital instruments and learning a style that’s very foreign to me.” – Bo Weber on discovering inspiring electronic music

Weber eventually established roots in Minneapolis, and he started playing around with digital textures and discovering new beats and riffs. He decided to go an exciting route.

“I discovered deep house music online and immediately fell in love,” Weber said.

“The sounds were warm and the vibe was comforting. Now I’ve spent hundreds of hours experimenting with new digital instruments and learning a style that’s very foreign to me.”

But Weber mostly attributes his musical growth to the inspiration of his mother, who fell victim of ovarian cancer in the summer of 2013.

“When you lose someone, you become more sensitive,” Weber said. “I’ve noticed certain sounds now have the ability to affect me on more of an emotional level than before.”

From relationship struggles and a totaled car, to video prop setbacks and recording studio malfunctions, “California Babe” is a track that arose from the ashes of complete adversity. Finally, after a hard break up, “California Babe” emerged from the cobwebs of Weber’s demo archives.

After a car-totaling accident that nearly drained his track-production funds and a recording session that went completely haywire, hopes for Weber’s new song were looking bleak. But a fortunate turn of events finally allowed the musician to fly to California in order to shoot the film for the “California Babe” single in May.

After smoothing things over with the girl from the break up, Emily (a Golden State native), Weber had her take the leading role of the girlfriend in the video. He explained that throughout the process, it was she who was – and still continues to be – his primary motivation and support.

Throughout the sound and production process of the track, Weber took on every responsibility from the lyrics to the instruments to everything in between (which is a rarity in pop music). So far “California Babe” is Weber’s only track. As far as new music in the future, Weber says we can expect plenty more, including an anticipated album release in January. The album, dedicated to the memory of his mother, was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Whether he’s in the studio creating new sounds, or catching footage on a Cali beach, Weber always keeps one mission in mind.

“My goal is to create music that moves me, as well as others,” said Weber. “I believe that music is an incredible tool for healing, whether you are the listener or creator.”

Learn more about Bo Weber and his music at www.boweber.com.