Music is a universal language, something everyone is able to understand and feel. Our very own BBHHS Alum, Jareth Marlow, has leaned into the lasting effect that music makes on his life.
Marlow began playing music at five years old, the age he and his siblings were when their parents encouraged them to learn classical piano.
While now having practice with piano, viola, violin, bass, and guitar, the one instrument always struck out to Marlow, one that inspired him. “We [he and his siblings] all had to play piano, and I was always singing,” he says. “My mom would have her friends over and make me sing for them, which I was really nervous [for], but I did it anyway.”
Being raised in a musically inclined household, and his musical talents only grew throughout high school, it is easy to latch on to the magical world that is music, but it’s another large feat to stick with it. Not many are so inspired that they hope to create their own chords and lyrics, sticking instead to the safety of playing covers.
“The songs are my stories, you know? Every song that I have came from something in my life that I felt or I experienced,” says Marlow.
Marlow’s first two songs came out in 2022 and 2023 and this was around the time he also started playing live at venues and events. “My first paid gig was a clam bake and someone reached out and asked me to play. My first paid gig at a bar was at Welcome to the Farm in the Flats, and now I play there like every weekend,” says Marlow. “It just took a lot of reaching out to lots of different venues, local venues, and playing some open mics just to get some experience,” he adds.
In addition to a lot of these local venues, Marlow has found himself visiting and playing in musical capitals of the country such as Nashville and LA.
Music often helps people in ways that they couldn’t imagine, ranging from relaxing after a long day, or meeting your closest friends.
“I would say all of my favorite people I’ve met through music,” says Marlow. “I’ve got friends that are artists that make music that’s so incredible. All the songwriters I collaborate with in LA and in Nashville, they are my best friends. We’ll hop on the phone and just talk about life, but then when we’re in the studio we’ll just write about it [life]. It’s a different way to connect other than just talking, you know, it’s really deep.”
While working on his personal journey, Marlow has still made time back in Brecksville as a favored substitute teacher at the High School.
Seniors Julia Karaffa and Ryan Sobecks both shared positive feedback about having him as a sub, with Sobecks sharing more sentiment having grown up with him in gymnastics. “Jareth Marlow showed me that it was possible to pursue both gymnastics and theater,” says Sobecks.
Teachers that have worked with him recently such as Steve Cocchiola and Craig Kowatch have also received positive feedback from their students who shared time with Marlow as a sub.
“You gotta follow what you enjoy doing. If you love playing the guitar, but you don’t like singing, find songs you love to play on the guitar, learn about them, learn to play them, learn who wrote them, and if it’s what you want to do, you can’t let anything stop you,” says Marlow.
For those inspired by Marlow’s songs or words of encouragement please look into his music more via the following links that take you to his Spotify and website.
https://jarethmarlowmusic.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6IhUuV6LGVD28Bo6OCAQ61?si=BTX7toCZT0e3bCENHVnq7g
