Scott Sapp's music on his debut album, “Under the White Noise,” is defined by a number
of eclectic influences he found both in his past and just sitting around his house

By David Boyle
Gargoyle co-editor-in-chief
Published Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, Gargoyle, arts

The laid-back style of junior Scott Sapp's music is a reflection of his personality. It also reflects the approach he took to making his debut album, the recently released “Under the White Noise,” which is available from Sapp for $3.

“I usually just come up with whatever sounds cool to me,” he says.

While Sapp's album consists primarily of acoustic guitar tracks, his unconventional musical edification began with a different instrument.

“From the youngest age I can remember,” says Sapp, “I knew that I wanted to play the drums.”
He started playing percussion instruments in his school's fifth-grade band.

“That year and the next year I played in the band until they started doing marching stuff and I dropped out, because I didn't want to be a loser,” he recalls.

Sapp plays drums in the jazz band at Uni but says he has learned much of what he knows about music from listening to albums and watching other artists perform. He has also played in a couple of punk rock bands in Mahomet, which he jokes were unsuccessful due to his “lack of black clothing.”

Sapp says that his older brother Ben, now 22, inspired him to take up guitar.

“For many years we would jam together with him on guitar and me on drums, but now we're learning each other's instruments,” he says.

Sapp's two favorite performers are Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix, but he respects all genres: “One night I'll listen to the Fugees, the next night I'll listen to Dizzie Gillespie, and then Led Zeppelin the next. … I try to avoid Christmas music though, especially in the summer time.”

His album, “Under the White Noise,” is the culmination of his self education with the guitar that began at the end of his freshman year. He recorded it using Sonar 4.0, which is a computer-recording program, and a plastic microphone he found sitting around his house.

“I tried to use all the instruments I have in my house, except I could not bring my drum set or piano to the room with the computer,” Sapp says.

As for the success of his album, Sapp's only hope is that people will take the time to appreciate the music. Ideally, says Sapp, people will “listen to the album from beginning to end in one sitting.”

And the future of Scott Sapp in the recording industry? It certainly looks bright, but let's just say he's avoiding any misplaced optimism.

“I really think I'm going to be in the NBA after this year,” he says. “Counting on any kind of future in music just seems foolish.”