Talent In Tipp City

Tipp City prides itself on its thriving community of passionate small business owners, parents, students, and citizens. There is no lack of creativity in the small Ohio town we call home. One of the many talents that Tippecanoe residents share is a passion for music.

If you’ve roamed the downtown streets of Tipp City in the warmer months, there’s a chance you’ve had the pleasure of enjoying some tunes from Mark Haer. Mark is a singer-songwriter and a Tipp City resident. He enjoys playing music throughout Tipp City and Troy, while also rushing home on his hour break from Harrison’s almost every day just to film a cover for his TikTok. The young artist's commitment to music began at only six years old when he discovered his love for the drums. Since then, Haer has branched out into learning the guitar in August of 2020. After a life change, Mark decided to set a goal of learning a different song on the guitar each day. Five years later, Mark is constantly sharing his love for country music, as well as implementing his faith into his writing and choice of covers. He says, “Country is a lot more honest with its lyrics. It's about looking back on your past and growing as a person.” Faith is a big part of Mark Haer’s identity. Combined with music, his closeness to God is what pushes Haer through life’s battles. Mark is constantly posting covers and music on his TikTok, Mark C.

 Haer and can be spotted at Leaf and Vine in Troy for a live performance on the evening of February 28th.

Mark isn’t the only artist paving their way in Tipp City. New Tipp resident Josiah Griffin is also passionate about singing and songwriting. The young artist moved to Tipp in June. Similar to Mark, Josiah grew up playing the drums in church. He then progressed to singing in a band with his brother, in “Brothers Griffin.” Josiah grew up in a large family of musicians, feeling naturally drawn to the artist scene. However, he only decided to start writing music as a solo artist a few years ago. Griffin has no specific style and enjoys writing in a myriad of genres depending on the emotional meaning of the songs. He says, “I think that the style of what I listen to and write is always changing, and life is always reflecting that.” Josiah has two songs out on every streaming platform, one of which is a new release as of December 2nd. Josiah’s unique perspective on listening is what makes his music special. Instead of looking to convey a message through his music, Griffin prefers to focus on what someone can take on their own. His new release, “The Moosic Goose.” It is simply about a goose Josiah saw one day. However, fans are already finding ways to connect a simple song about a goose into a lesson on life. Josiah has many more songs that he’s ready to share, and he does each step of the creative process from writing to producing on his own. After “The Moosic Goose,” Josiah’s listeners are eagerly awaiting new releases. 

Solo artists are making a splash in Tipp City, but a young and up-and-coming band is also entering the scene. Lineleaders is a small band composed of three young musicians from Tipp City. Jacob plays the bass with his friends Jeffery on the drums and Carter on the guitar.

Occasionally, Isaac joins with the violin. The band took inspiration for the name from a shared experience. Jeffery says, “I guess it’s just a reference to when you were a little kid and wanted to be a line leader.” Lineleadersleans into the emo, hardcore, and punk genres, and the trio performs local upbeat events at venues like Blind Bob’s. When asked where Jacob and Jeffery see Lineleadersgoing in the future, their response was genuine and hopeful. The energetic team of artists hopes to “grow old playing the music,” and to “probably be like world famous.” For now, fans can listen to Lineleaderson every streaming platform, as well as at Cosmo Joes in Dayton on December 20th, and Hidden Gem on December 28th. In the meantime, Jacob, Jeffery, and Carter are practicing and pursuing their dreams here in the heart of Tipp City.