Local band Phoenix Highway is a familiar entity on Elon University’s campus.

Senior Frank Hurd, 2011 graduate Jacob Danieley and 2010 graduate Michael Lobacz started the band in 2009, and have since added junior Ben Soldate and freshman Jake Valente to the group.

But Hurd, one of the band’s founding members, has recently begun to pursue a solo music career as well.

Though he will be receiving a degree in music technology and communications when he graduates in May, Hurd had little to do with music when he was younger. Originally from Warwick, R.I., he grew up playing baseball. It wasn’t until he was injured while playing the sport at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania that Hurd made music a part of his life.

[quote]He has the unique ability to write catchy melodies. When you listen to one of his songs for the first time, by the time the second chorus comes around, you find yourself singing along. He has quite a gift.[/quote]

He decided to transfer to Elon, where he became involved in the music program, as well as the club baseball team and Campus Outreach, a prominent Christian organization on campus.

Hurd said Campus Outreach has been an especially crucial part of his life. During holiday break, Hurd attended the Campus Outreach National Conference in Chattanooga, Tenn. While there, he won their talent competition, Campus Outreach’s Got Talent, after performing two original songs.

“I got an email the week before the conference that said, ‘Did you know about this talent contest? There are four people in it, and you’re one of them!’ It was an awesome opportunity, but I was totally nervous,” Hurd said.

More than 5,000 people attended the conference, which Hurd said may have contributed to his nerves.

“Somehow, I won the competition,” he said. “I couldn’t tell you how, but it was just awesome. People were so supportive and it seemed like they were really loving it. It was just unbelievable.”

Hurd said he has received numerous encouraging emails in support of his solo music career since winning the talent competition. Though he admits to still getting nervous on stage, Hurd said he likes performing.

“It’s kind of ironic because I’m not a huge fan of being up on stage in front of people just for the sake of that,” he said. “I don’t like being the center of attention. But there is something special about performing, especially when people kind of know your music and they’re singing along.”

Lobacz said Hurd’s pop-acoustic sound tends to quickly pull people into the music.

“He has the unique ability to write catchy melodies,” Lobacz said. “When you listen to one of his songs for the first time, by the time the second chorus comes around, you find yourself singing along. He has quite a gift.”

It’s not uncommon for the members of Phoenix Highway to praise each other. Hurd was part of the Elon Electric Ensemble during his first year on campus, where he met Danieley and Lobacz. Their frequent jam sessions eventually turned into writing songs and producing their own sound.

While Hurd enjoys writing his solo music, he said he still likes to create songs with his bandmates.

“It’s always fun to play with friends — to be up there with people you care about and have relationships with,” he said.

Each member of Phoenix Highway said they hope this is one way they can live out their dream of having a career in music.

“The dream is to hit it big, I guess, in a sense,” Hurd said. “But I would like to get to a point where I have a big enough fan base so I can sing songs that are more positive, uplifting, wholesome, to kind of counteract what’s pretty much dominating the radio nowadays.”

Phoenix Highway’s EP, “American Blend,” was released in December, and Hurd said fans can expect his solo EP in the spring.