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School of Rock in session as teachers release first EP

'The project gave us something to do, something to keep us sane,' says Jesse Muldoon

Members of local bands Dead Mechanics and Starving Artists have collaborated on some tunes to fight the pandemic blues and show that music always finds a way.

Tiny Strings is made up of Jesse Muldoon (vocals, guitar), James McLean (bass, vocals), and Neil Mavor (drums, vocals). Over the last few months, the trio recorded a five-song EP while completely distanced from each other.

The band got together for one rehearsal before COVID-19 shut down the province, but Muldoon tells BarrieToday that, even though it was new to them, he personally found it easier.

“It was difficult at first when we all had to download programs into our machines and then learn them, but due to necessity, we ended up doing quite well with it,” said Muldoon.

“Eventually, I actually found it easier than going into someone’s space," he added. "Once the kids went to bed, you could just go to your basement or wherever and start recording your part.”

Muldoon admits he is inspired by Canadian indie rock as well as The Tragically Hip, The Constantines and some obvious legends like The Beatles and Neil Young.

In their other bands, the three were regular performers at the Foxx Lounge (now closed due to COVID), which was the hub of Barrie's live music scene. But they also have another connection — they are all high school teachers with the Simcoe County District School Board.

“We were approaching March Break, so we were anticipating a week off, and that went a lot longer. How we made the album is how we looked at school,” said Muldoon. “We were forced into distanced education, which we’d never done. Like our recording for the EP, with school we were learning day-by-day, with changes coming all the time.”

The trio met back in high school when Muldoon and McLean were in their last few years at Barrie Central and Mavor was coming in as a young, new teacher with a passion for music.

“It was a weird story with me and Jimmy playing at school concerts and Neil being a new teacher and into that music as well,” said Muldoon. “I connected with Neil later on after high school; he’s just an amazing drummer. Drummers are like hockey goalies in that everybody needs one and when you get a good one, they’re usually playing on five different teams.”

The new album contains themes such as nature, isolation and solidarity. It also provided an opportunity to create something unique in an uncertain period. 

With all three guys in their late-30s and early-40s, Muldoon believes they can be an inspiration to their students through this project.

“The project gave us something to do, something to keep us sane. But I guess when you look at it, it can show our students that you can adapt to the new way of life,” said Muldoon. “We may be cooped up inside, but if you have a passion and a willingness to make it work, you can.”

Muldoon says that Tiny Strings are hoping to work on some new material soon, but the new album is available for free here.