You might know Nick Sanborn as one half of Sylvan Esso, from his time in Milwaukee’s own Decibully, or from his work in side projects like Made Of Oak and Rosenau & Sanborn. Long before any of that, however, Sanborn was a kid in Madison, Wisconsin who was involved in his school’s orchestra before picking up a bass guitar and deciding to start a band of his own. Since that start in a high school group called Point B, he made his way to Milwaukee and quickly became a fixture the city’s music scene before branching out to be part touring acts and developing his solo efforts.

While he was in Milwaukee to rehearse for the Rosenau & Sanborn show at The Back Room @ Colectivo, Sanborn met My First Band host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk about his musical outset, early tours with Decibully, landing in Headlights and Megafaun, the random set of circumstances that allowed him to meet (and subsequently collaborate with) Amelia Meath, and what it’s like to have his band’s music play notable parts in films and television shows.

My First Band is sponsored by Boulevard Brewing and Rushmor Records. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth (“The Junction Street Eight Tigers”), Decibully (“My Lighter And Strings”), and Sylvan Esso (“Die Young”).