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Get to Know: Cavashawn

The young Midwesterners make an album that you can't help but like.

Age doesn't always mean success, especially in the current music industry. Some of the greatest new music is being produced by people who remember watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, rather than the more "mature" crowds who isn't as familiar with the robotic series. The Midwest quartet Cavashawn may not be the oldest in years, but the group is no stranger to success. Lead singer Scott Salmon and company were in a band previous to Cavashawn called Marking Twain that had opened up for the likes of John Mayer and Jason Mraz, all while the duo was still in high school. After graduating college, the group moved to Illinois to pursue their career in Cavashawn.

They went from selling out in Ohio to playing for three people in small places in Chicago and worked their way to the top again. These are the hard-working Midwesterners that you've heard so much about. They write all their own songs while tirelessly touring the country, all on shows that they've booked themselves. Using grassroots techniques to build a fan base and promote the band, Cavashawn are able to create enough revenue to keep pursuing music instead of a menial nine to five job.

Their debut EP Cavashawn is a fantastic introduction to the band's youthful energy. Salmon is like Maroon 5's Adam Levine without the oversexed-underworked attitude towards his music. The EP is a guilty pleasure, poppy to the point that you feel bad for dancing around your room with wild abandon. The album sounds more mature than the collective average age of the group. Their song "Madison" despite its tame name oozes with sexuality with lines describing a woman "who had me wrapped around her tongue." The EP may only be four tracks long, but it's enough material to show the talent that Cavashawn has in their field. Their songs may be too poppy for some to handle, but their musicianship is something that can't be argued with. All four members are immensely talented in what they do and their hard work and determination make the EP shine.

This week's single "Out of My Mind" starts with drummer Jesse Feister's eruption of drum hits, telling us what direction we're going in right off the bat. Salmon's catchy lyrics will have you singing along to lines such as "Born in the eighties made us crazy" and nodding your head along in agreement. Even if you aren't a fan of pop rock, "Out of My Mind" is sure to capture your attention. Deny its greatness later, but listen to it now and jam out in secrecy.

Check out Cavashawn on their ReverbNation page or their official website