New Year, who dis?
2018 is here! We are beyond excited for another year of crushing the merch game and bringing you the best in custom printed apparel, promotional products, and digital prints. This year, we will be periodically featuring 85 Supply customers from all corners of the spectrum. We recently sat down with Colin Rigsby of the band Vesperteen.
At 85 Supply, we have many musical artists on our roster. Having a background in the music industry ourselves, one of the best situations we encounter in our work is when old friends become new customers. Enter Vesperteen. Brainchild of House of Heroes drummer and Columbus, OH native Colin Rigsby, Vesperteen is taking over the music scene with his original brand of melodic indie/pop. Colin is no stranger to life on the road, and he has now stepped out from behind the kit (well, sort of) to take his place as a frontman. We were elated when we got the call that Colin was moving into a solo career and came to 85 Supply for his branding/merchandising needs. Over the holiday, we caught up with Colin to discuss the past, present, and future of Vesperteen.
We asked Rigsby how a drummer who toured heavily for over a decade found himself fronting a band. He claims that was not necessarily the original plan. “When House of Heroes started slowing down, I wasn’t trying to start a new project right away, but I had tons of songs in various stages of completeness.” Rigsby says he asked a local promoter to start adding him to bills as an acoustic opener. “It was a really great way to transition into the frontman position.” These acoustic songs eventually materialized into a full production self-tited debut EP, which was released at the end of 2015.
Now as a full band, 2016 saw Vesperteen expanding shows from local to regional, releasing music videos and new music, and building a fan base. By 2017 the audience had grown exponentially. So much, in fact, that the band secured an opening slot for Twenty One Pilots and played almost 100 headlining dates throughout the year, including a sold out tour in Europe. After a busy year of touring, most artists would be looking forward to a break. Instead, Rigsby is looking to the future. “2018 will be a lot of creating new music. Writing and recording. Then hopefully lots of support slots for the rest of the year.”
As if this resumè wasn’t impressive in and of itself, it is worthy to note that Vesperteen is managed by Rigby himself. It may even be safe to say that Vesperteen is writing the book on in-house management. These duties include the writing and recording of music, overseeing booking, tour managing, scheduling music video and photo shoots, social media, branding and design, and merchandise. This is where his story intersects with 85 Supply. We asked Colin what drew him to 85 Supply for his printing and branding needs. “As the owner and manager of my business I am swamped with so many other things to worry about. I love the fact that I can trust 85 Supply to take care of me and make suggestions or even make executive calls on what is best for my products. They are the merch experts, and that’s who I need on my team.”
Vesperteen’s merchandise lineup is filled with on-trend, forward thinking products. Vesperteen and 85 Supply have collaborated on many fun projects including embroidered hats, pullover hoodies with double sleeve prints, neon pink tees with soft discharge inks, tie-dyed tees with custom prints, the list goes on. Vesperteen’s designs are nearly always full of vibrant pops of color; an important aspect to his overall branding and image. When asked what might be his favorite project we’ve collaborated on, Colin mentions “I recently had custom flags done. They turned out so well!”
Rigsby notes that establishing a relationship with those in his corner is key. “Building a relationship with 85 Supply helps them understand my needs more and more as we continue to work together. It’s truly a custom and personal experience. Knowing Cody and Trevor for many years was definitely a factor in deciding to bring my work to them, but if I had not known them to begin with I would’ve been won over immediately. They take such amazing care of their clients in every stage of the process. They truly and genuinely care about what you need and want to get you the best product for the best price, every time.” At 85 Supply, we thrive in cultivating a unique and positive customer experience that is built on trust, exceeding all expectations. We’re happy to know our mission has made a connection in the Vesperteen camp. This is what it’s all about!
We are sure you will be seeing and hearing more from Vesperteen soon. In the meantime, keep up all with all things Vesperteen at vesperteenmusic.com and on Instagram @vesperteen.
Interested in starting a custom project of your own? Reach out to us! [email protected] and 85supply.com.
We look forward to working with you!