GREENVILLE – Three siblings, Luke, 21, Majennica, 17, and Sam, 14, have been playing together since they were little, but not in the sense that most siblings play together. Luke plays guitar, bass, and drums, Majennica plays drums, piano, bass, and guitar, and Sam plays piano. All three of the Nealeigh children also sing, they said.
Their father, Dan, has been encouraging their musical expression and exploration since they were about two, their mom, Melanie, commented. Since then they have been performing around the area, at their church, Ft. Jefferson United Methodist, at nursing homes, and at the Great Darke County Fair, the trio brings their multitude of talents to the table and rocks it.
The Nealeigh trio are home schooled, though Luke has finished, Melanie said, and the children all agree that has been a big influence in their musical life. Luke stated that if it weren’t for being home schooled, they wouldn’t have had the time to build their skills as they have, though they all agreed that they would still have had the same love for music as they do now.
“It’s an indescribable feeling, almost. Especially when the crowd is very into it, it’s a weird high – something you don’t even hardly notice at the time, and then afterwards it’s gone,” said Luke.
Majennica enjoys the theatricality of performing, and Sam agrees that putting on a show is a lot of fun.
“I suppose it’d be nice if I’d get famous; it’s every teenage girl’s dream to be a pop star, astronaut, princess in space - but if it doesn’t happen, I’m into other things, as well,” Majennica commented.
Luke hopes to eventually enter the music industry professionally, whether as an artist, or as an audio engineer, he said. Sam also agreed that performing professionally would be an amazing career.
The siblings recently began collaboration on one of Luke’s ideas to create a concept album, which he initially had planned to put together himself, but once he started to think about it more, he decided that including his brother and sister was what he really wanted to do, he said.
“It pretty much hit me like a ton of bricks: Why not have Majennica and Sam play on it, too? They’re some of the other best musicians I know, right here,” Luke commented.
The concept album will tell a story, something like a movie soundtrack, said Majennica, but in a classic metal style, Luke said, but without the screaming.
“I think epic is really the word to describe it,” Luke commented, with his siblings in agreement.
“I feel it has a good chance to do something. We’ve been playing together since we were little, and we understand how we all function, and we’re pretty good musicians,” said Majennica about working with her brothers.
The one musical influence all three gave was KISS, but Luke and Majennica share a common enjoyment of The Beatles, while Luke and Sam share a common interest in Def Leppard. Luke also listed Megadeth as one of his influences, while Majennica’s tastes were slightly more eclectic with Three Days Grace, and Sam enjoys Nightwish and Koji Kondo. Their dad is also a big influence, Luke said.
“We wouldn’t have any of this without dad – the talent, the equipment or the opportunity,” Luke said.
“Our dad is very supportive, he’s always bragging about us,” Majennica added.
Part of that support includes the D.A. Music Studios on Broadway in Greenville; providing private music lessons, some “corny, but funny” videos for children, and the possibility of recording, said Luke. Anyone interested in taking private lessons, or who would like more information on recording, should call 937-548-1947.
Each of the Nealeigh children have a hand in the studio, they said, whether it’s practicing and performing with the group bands that are put together through the studio, or answering phones and returning phone calls, it’s a family studio, right down to the resident cat, Nefertiti.