By Kolin Kriner
“It’s the life I choose, and it’s not for everyone. But if you really want it, you have to go after it.”
Logan Toleman, a sophomore finance and business administration major, is making great strides to make his music dreams come true.
Toleman found his passion for music at the age of 12. He started taking guitar lessons and learned the fundamentals but ultimately stopped going, teaching himself instead. He draws inspiration from bands such as Three Days Grace, Three Doors Down and Green Day.
Since then, his love for music has expanded, and his taste has as well.
“Nowadays it’s a little different because my music taste has grown, and it’s a lot less narrow,” Toleman said.
And as his taste grew, his passion flourished, and when he transferred from Castleton College in Vermont to SUNY Plattsburgh, his search for other’s with his same passion began.
“When I transferred here, I made a Yik Yak post looking for musicians in Plattsburgh,” Toleman said. “At the time he was the bass player of the Gallery, his name is Billy, and he was like, ‘Hey, I know two dudes who would be down to play music,” and that’s how I met my drummer and my bassist.”
Their band, Reverse the Grin, celebrates its one year anniversary May 4 and has not only produced music but also genuine friendships and connections.
“We’ve become such good friends,” Toleman said. “It’s beyond music.”
Toleman also plays guitar for Vermont artist Tyler Serrani. They met through a mutual acquaintance during Toleman’s time at Castleton. About a year ago, Serrani reached out to Toleman to come perform a show with him.
“I learned the songs the day of,” Toleman said. “And ever since then we’ve been a very strong duo.”
The pair has expanded into a group, as they’ve since added a drummer and bass player. “We’re killing it,” Toleman said.
Working with both groups has really expanded his passion for the art. Creativity as a whole is something that pushes Toleman to be the best he can be.
“When you do something as limitless as music, you draw influences from other passionate people. My best friend is a very passionate artist and he sends me his works and I draw so much inspiration from that and it motivates me to try and make better stuff — it makes you want to be better,” Toleman said.
While making music with both bands, Toleman is balancing not only his own solo work as well, but also being a committed student and the president of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He said it’s a lot to have on his plate, but he firmly believes that if somebody wants something, they have to go for it. He does this all while staying true to his music and producing the music he wants to hear to share with people who long for said music too, and he always strives for perfection.
“I always feel you can polish a little more,” Toleman said. “I know it’s unrealistic and I’m my own worst enemy in this instance, but it is an incredibly gratifying experience when you play that song together for the first time or you’re listening to the final mix of a song you’ve been working on for a couple of months. You’re just like, ‘Wow, this is what I’ve wanted to hear for so long. I write the music I want to hear, and you have to be true to yourself when you’re songwriting.”
The future has a lot in store for Toleman but he also has a lot in store for the future.
“There’s a lot on the horizon,” Toleman said.
Toleman has this advice to give to people who want to get into music: “It takes time, and it takes commitment. You don’t get good at something just by letting it happen — you have to put work into it, but also, just get after it and see what feels right.”
Support Logan Toleman on Instagram @toleysmusic and find his band on Instagram @reversethegrin.
