Cassmark is multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter/lyricist Jim Frangelo's self-proclaimed "musical engine", founded 2004 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The music stems from Jim's dedication and persistence in expressing his distinct musical unconventionalities. He plays, writes, and sings all of his originally written music. Jim mainly uses guitars, bass, and drums along with his voice to create his sound.
In 2007-2008, Cassmark's 'Self-Titled' debut album was written and recorded. With the assistance of great engineer/studio owner Joel Wanasek, Jim recorded the 11-song full-length at JTW Studios in Wisconsin.(www.myspace.com/cassmarkselftitled)
Jim's songwriting efforts, recording techniques, instrumental ability and vocal patterns have interested many of those who have listened to Cassmark. His musical spectrum and interpretations are one of a kind, and he finds them completely natural. Many listeners come to say that they cannot sum up Cassmark with just one listen.
Jim insists it's a healthy challenge to be the main input and output of Cassmark's sound. Committed to a free-flowing thoght process in musical ideas, he found it logical to build a songwriting method based upon creative freedom. Jim prepares each song's parts individually, and this writing method provides structure in the combination of these parts.
Jim loves collaborating with other people musically, doing so as much as possible. He feels others that he plays and creates music with define him and help him personally grow. Jim gets musical inspirartion from everything, but mostly from collaborations, from other musicians that write their own original music, and from live shows that he was either a peformer or a witness of.
Jim had taken an interest in music when he was 10 years old. He started playing drums in his elementary school program and continued through high school. From high school through his early 20's, he pleyaed drums for several rock-based bands from Kenosha, Wisconsin. He still loves playing drums whenever the opportunity arises, and can keep quite the beat.
Jim had started learning to play the guitar in 2001 when he was 16. He's acquired a diverse and uniquely technical method all of his own creation. His playing style is broad in range that's acquired from his nonstop playing and thinking about the instrument. He tries to bring out the harmony and dissonance through his guitar writing and the guitar tones he creates.
Jim has been playing bass guitar since he was 18 years old. Unlike many other musicians that use vocals as the main song melody, he often uses the basslines. He prefers the deeper melody in the bass to maintain a consistency in his many different guitar tones.
Vocally, Jim tries to keep it simple and interesting. He likes making the most out of his unique vocal inflections and patterns. Also, many people like the lyrics behind the Cassmark songs.
Jim has been programming music on computers even before becoming interested in playing guitar, and uses countless different programs and methods. Programming and computer technology will always be important to Cassmark recordings and for song consturction.
Aside from playing music, Jim listens to an incredible amount of music. He has a vast knowledge of musical recordings, mainly (but not limited to) rock and rock 'n' roll-based music. He claims that listening to as much new music as possible will continue to help him establish his own sound. When it comes to music, he's very open-minded and does not limit himself from listening to anything (as long as it's music). He is a big fan of the music and life of 1960s performer Tiny Tim, for reasons only he knows. (Just to name one of the thousands of artists that Jim respects and continues to develop an understanding of...)
Jim is confident in the music he creates and releases via Cassmark. He hopes that everyone will give the songs a listening, check out the lyrics and spread the word all around..