Marla Wold and Beverly Reese - Casper the Friendly

Q: First, tell us a little about yourself! Where are you from, how did you get your start in music, and what does your musical journey look like today? Is this just a hobby? Do you play professionally? If so, where at?

A: I am from Casper, and not in the music business but thought we would enter the competition for Casper's anthem.

Q: What's your connection to Casper, Wyoming? Are you a local or a previous visitor? Tell us a little about your relationship with the community and what makes this place special to you.

A: I have spent my whole life here. Our family ranch is on the Poison Spider creek. We have raised three children here and it is home.

Q: What inspired your Casper Anthem submission? What stories, places, people, experiences, or personal memories helped shape the song? Was there a particular moment or aspect of Casper that sparked the idea?

A: Casper needs a new slogan and so I came up with "Casper, the Friendly, the One and Only, NOT a ghost town". What places inspired me? In the song you will find::
Ft. Casper
Casper College
Casper Mountain
Platte River
Downtown
Fresh air
Blue skies
Etc.

Q: Take us behind the music. What did your creative process look like from writing the lyrics to creating the sound? How did you approach writing and producing it? Were there any particular musical influences, sounds, lyrics, or creative decisions that helped capture the feeling and personality of Casper?

A: I came up with the Refrain tune and Bev Reese put it on the piano and her daughter, Nina Stairs sang it. Patrick at All Solar recorded it.

Q: When someone hears your song, what do you hope they take away from it? What do you hope a listener who has never visited Casper learns, feels, or experiences through your music? And for those who already know and love Casper, what do you hope the song reminds them of?

A: I had hoped to have our jingle become the new tune around town, the friendliest town around.