For third-year Penn Law student Andrew Bingham, music — once a pastime — has opened up new professional possibilities.
In September, Bingham released his debut album, “A Hoarder Wants to Give,” featuring songs he wrote while attending law school.
Characterizing the album as “folk rock” with country and blues influences, Bingham said many of the songs were written within months of recording. However, one of the songs on the album took more than 10 years to complete.
While Bingham, who formed a band with his friends in high school, said he has written music casually “for years,” it was not until his second year at Penn Law that he “settled into the sound [he] was looking for.”
He initially intended to record his album with a Bay Area studio. However, after meeting local music producer Phil Nicolo — with whom he “hit it off” immediately — he decided instead to record it in Philadelphia last May.
“Nicolo has worked with a lot of high-profile musicians, but he has a soft spot for the Philly arts scene,” said Bingham. “He agreed to cut me a break with the price and brought in some great musicians to help make the album bigger than it would have been with me alone.”
Recalling the recording process, Bingham said Nicolo brought in musicians he thought would work well with him. He and the others laid down tracks together as a band.
“[Nicolo would] record the bass and the drums, but we wouldn’t use my recording with the vocals, piano and guitar,” he said. “We’d go back and add them one layer at a time.”
Bingham wrote both the music and lyrics of the 13 songs on the album.
Although he admitted that balancing his passion for music with his academic obligations has been difficult, Bingham also revealed that some of his greatest inspiration comes when he is busiest with law school.
“If I were trying to clerk for a judge and be the perfect law student, this wouldn’t be possible,” Bingham said, adding that “sometimes you have to prioritize.”
The greatest challenge he now faces lies in effectively promoting the album.
To this end, he will be playing shows at the Lickety Split Music Lounge today and at the M-Room on Thursday. Both shows will begin at 8 p.m.
Even after earning his law degree, Bingham intends to continue songwriting.
“I don’t want to give it up, and I’m going to do what I can to make time for it. I’m not going to work at a huge firm and have to put in 16 hours a day,” he said. “I’ll find jobs to allow me to keep going with the music and possibly work within the industry, whether with record labels or in the arts in general.”
Bingham’s album is currently for sale on his web site, andrewbinghammusic.com.
