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Contest win leads to musical career |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Wednesday, 01 August 2007 |
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 Steve Melton had no idea that a friendly college music competition would lead to the career of his dreams. It would also lead to the formation of the northern Colorado band called Set Forth.
Melton won the University of Northern Colorado Idol competition in 2004. The following season, he returned as a guest performer.
Chris Kelly, program director and morning show host of 96.1 KISS FM, was one of the judges. He was so impressed with the performance that he asked Melton to but together a band to perform at a Hurricane Katrina benefit concert at the Budweiser Events Center. Once formed, the group had a week to practice before performing with The Fray.
“That was a little bit overwhelming,” Melton said. “It was a pretty good way to start though. You can’t go wrong playing with The Fray.”
During the next year, Set Forth had some changes in the lineup. The group started as a five-member band and now consists of two members, Melton and Ryan Buller, with several studio musicians thrown into the mix.
“I think we will always keep doing the same things and continue to get our name out there and play shows,” Melton said. After the summer, the band plans on focusing on marketing.
Set Forth has a rich and mellow pop sound that resonates with a variety of listeners around northern Colorado, along the Front Range and throughout Denver. Melton never thought he would experience so much musical success.
“It was definitely something I wanted to do— a main goal in life,” he said. “I knew I wanted to try it. It wasn’t that I wasn’t taking it seriously, I just didn’t realize you could make it in a place like Greeley.”
————— NEXTnc's conversation with Set Forth ————
NEXTnc: What songs do you sing in the shower?
MELTON: I guess it changes all the time, I think. I sing a lot of Maroon 5 in the shower.
NEXTnc: What is the biggest pressure you face as a musician?
MELTON: I think the fact that I’m taking so many aspects on myself. I’m extremely specific. I’d rather do it myself rather than have people help me. I’m my own biggest pressure. I think I need to let others help me more. The other pressure is going up against yourself. As a musician, you always want to be better and continue to rise and if you don’t, then you are hard on yourself.
NEXTnc: What’s the one song you can’t stand to listen to?
MELTON: There’s a new song by Saving Jane called “One Girl Revolution.” I like artists like Pink who do the strong independent woman thing, but for whatever reason I think that the lyrics make a joke out of it. I don’t think she does a good job with it.
NEXTnc: If you could give advice to other young musicians starting out, what would you tell them?
MELTON: The advice I would give is to expect it to be harder than it is. I don’t think anyone understands how hard it really is. The more I could have expected that, the better off I would have been.
NEXTnc: What is one thing not many people know about you or your band?
MELTON: Ryan and I are pretty unusual. I think we are a lot different than the way people expect us to be. We are very real— the fact that we are so dorky. I’m so into different things like science, video games and technology. I think we are pretty dorky. I guess it’s good hope for other dorks out there. You can be cool, and you can get girls and stuff.
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THE BAND
• Steve Melton, 24, vocals and piano
• Ryan Buller, 19, guitar
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TO GO
Set Forth
8 p.m. Aug. 11
Aggie Theatre
204 S. College Ave., Fort Collins
482.8300
$10.
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