Ypsilanti songwriter Adam Plomaritas draws on the words of John Coltrane to describe his own art: "My music is the spiritual expression of what I am – My faith, my knowledge, my being ... When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something really good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hang-ups ... I want to speak to their souls." He writes about things that happen every day, his family, and the struggle to live a good life. "I tend to think of myself as a rational person, but music is a place where I can feel," he says. "Music can be—should be—emotional. The music I make is about what I love, what I hate, what I enjoy and what I fear. I think that the idea that heaven is a place full of music is a profound one. Music gives us an opportunity to both touch and be touched by something greater than ourselves."

Born out of a need for bluegrass in the Chelsea area, and a weekly gig at the Chelsea Alehouse, Thunderwüde (coined by Fred VanReesma) became a band after a series of sessions done by Jason Dennie, George Merkel and West Fritzemeier at the Alehouse. First starting as mostly a traditional bluegrass outfit, it morphed into playing originals from Jason as well as current pop hits in a bluegrass style. The repertoire expanded to range from Bill Monroe to Townes Van Zandt to some choice sountrack selections from blockbuster hits.