Alums Blair, Murphy embrace Lawrence as they return to Appleton to play Mile of Music

The strong bond between Lawrence University, community, and music led two alumni back to Appleton and back to campus for this year’s Mile of Music festival. 

Julia Blair ’11 and Michael Murphy ’23 took the stage during the 11th Mile over the weekend of Aug. 1-4.  

For Murphy, a Neenah, Wisconsin, native now living in Nashville, Tennessee, the chance to perform at Mile had been a longtime dream—for him and his family. Since they were young, Murphy performed with brothers Jack and David, forming the family band Murphy’s Law. 

“All we would do all the time was play music,” Murphy said. “That was the origin of our love for the Mile, was maybe someday our little family band would be able to play the festival. This festival that we had in our back yard growing up, to be able to actually now perform is such a blessing.”  

Murphy performed alongside two other Lawrence alumni: his older brother, Jack Murphy ’21, and Ryan Erdmann ’22, playing tracks off his debut solo album, Indigo Jones. Jack and Ryan also recorded the album with Murphy in 2023. 

Michael Murphy describes his music as influenced by the sounds of the 1970s with a dash of Americana. Artists such as Steely Dan, James Taylor, Elton John, and Led Zeppelin fill his Spotify Wrapped, he said. 

“I get to play guitar a little bit and feature that, but I also get to write some beautiful melodies that people can relate to,” Murphy said.  

Blair, an Appleton native, also found her passion for music from a young age, including a love for chamber music. So, when Michael Mizrahi, Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music at Lawrence, approached her about performing with the inaugural Lawrence Chamber Music Festival, it seemed like a perfect opportunity. 

“I grew up playing viola,” Blair said. “The first group I ever performed in independently was a string quartet in high school. On my first record, I have a string quartet for one of my songs. I was really excited by the idea of arranging my songs that way.” 

The Chamber Music Festival, a newly formed program designed for advanced instrumentalists and ensembles, allowed Blair to perform her music in a different way. She also performed solo at several venues, an uncommon occurrence for Blair, as she usually plays with a group.  

See photo gallery from Mile of Music

About a year after graduating from Lawrence, Blair formed the band Holy Sheboygan! She now also plays with the band DUSK. Her first solo album, Better Out Than In, was released in 2022.  

“Holy Sheboygan! was very much like a collective, kind of folk music—it varied a lot. DUSK is a louder country rock-and-roll band,” Blair said. “And then my solo music is kind of an amalgamation of those two." 

Journey to Lawrence through music 

Blair and Murphy took slightly unconventional routes through music during their times at Lawrence.  

Blair, a religious studies and music major, was unsure what her career path would be after graduation. She was drawn to Buddhism and was encouraged to explore that interest while at Lawrence.  

Some of her main influences were now-retired professors Dirck Vorenkamp and Gene Biringer. Blair recalled a course taught by Biringer that looked at the connection between music and mindfulness.  

“There was a meditation element to the class,” she said. “There was also modern, mindful music and historical music and mysticism. We also went on a meditation retreat to Björklunden. It was a really cool class.” 

Blair also credits Matt Turner, instructor of music, and Karen Leigh-Post, professor of music and teacher of voice, with helping her explore the realm of music.  

Turner, she said, helped her look at music in a different way and explore new improvisation styles. Meanwhile, Leigh-Post brought shared vocal techniques and vocal health strategies.  

“She’s (Leigh-Post) very Western classical minded; that’s her performance style,” Blair said. “But she knew that wasn’t my trajectory and what I planned to do after school. Her style of teaching extended beyond just that style.”  

Michael Murphy also thought this Lawrence experience would go in a different direction, entering school intending to study neuroscience.  

“About halfway through my first year, I had a massive self-reflective intervention and realized my passion was in music and creation,” Murphy said. “I switched as fast as I could.” 

Murphy made the switch to the Bachelor of Musical Arts (B.M.A.) program, which began at Lawrence at the start of his first year in 2019. The new degree allowed students to audition with non-classical music and to explore a wide range of alternate music-making opportunities. B.M.A. students could also choose a cognate—a non-musical area of study—to pursue; Murphy’s choice was innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Because the B.M.A. program was new, Murphy said he was like a “guinea pig”—which worked in his favor.  

“I got to try a lot of different things; I took a lot of lessons and as many random classes as I could to piece together this major,” Murphy said. “I studied classical voice, jazz guitar, upright and electric bass, jazz comp—all of that stuff.”  

One of the biggest things Murphy took away from his college experience was the relationships he created with professors and lecturers, many of which continue to this day. 

Steve Peplin, lecturer of music, and Brent Hauer, director of recording and technology and lecturer in recording arts, were two such influences. Peplin, Murphy said, introduced him to several artists with whom he later collaborated.  

With Hauer, Murphy helped develop audio engineering coursework at Lawrence.  

“He (Hauer) has been amazing for the growth of not only performance here, but also for music and creativity for students,” Murphy said. “It’s so amazing to see a lot of the new students, especially in the B.M.A., sharing their songs. We’ve created this environment where a lot of students are writing new music.” 

Gary Vaughan, lecturer in innovation and entrepreneurship, was another influence for Murphy. Vaughan helped Murphy launch his small business, Michael Murphy Music, LLC, as part of his independent study during his senior year. 

“I’m incredibly grateful for all the faculty and teachers here,” Murphy said. “To make the most out of it, it’s important to make those relationships, where it’s not just the teacher-student thing. If a student has the drive to do something, they will be excited to offer the resources.” 

Future projects 

On top of pursuing his career as a singer-songwriter, Murphy’s LLC has also branched off to his record label, Living Room Records, LLC, and a live show production company, Muse Live Productions, LLC. 

He is also gearing up for two album releases. Murphy collaborated with musical artist Steve March-Tormé to revise and record an unreleased 1984 album, Dalton Diamond. The album will be coming out in early 2025. 

“We reworked some of the songs, wrote two new songs, and made a 10-track album,” Murphy said. “We’ve done a few performances of some of the songs, and that’s the first time those songs have ever been performed since it was written in ’84-85.” 

He also recently finished mixing his second solo album, with plans to release it in 2026.  

Blair also just finished her second solo album, which will be released soon. DUSK is also working on a new album. In addition, she recently scored a film from Lawrence alumnus Molly Preston ‘10. Freedom, Wisconsin is working its way through the festival circuit.