While some bands solve problems by firing

and hiring musicians, Airplane Mode tries to solve its

problems with technology. For a video for the song “Long-

Distance,” the band members briefly considered hiring a

computer animator to integrate live-action emoji into the

video. Instead, Wiskus learned how to use an animation

program to create the video himself.

“We have this common background, and it has

really informed us,” Cieplinski said. “We treat the band

like a business. [We] worked in iOS and worked for small

companies — it comes naturally for us. Most musicians

want to play and don’t think about money until it’s

too late.”

Wiskus had always wanted to do something with

music and had tried to find fellow musicians on Craiglist,

but he couldn’t get anything off the ground. Then while

living in Denver, he met Cieplinski at an iOS developers’

conference.

When he moved from Denver to New York, where

Cieplinski was living, they vowed to get together to jam.

Parry Gripp’s Silly iPhone Songs

Parry Gripp was the lead vocalist of a promising pop

punk band with a record deal; stardom seemed to be

just around the corner. Gripp and friends had formed

the band Nerf Herder in 1994 and were signed to Arista

records after the band received significant airplay for a

song that saluted Van Halen. Nerf Herder’s biggest high-

light was appearing as a musical guest on an episode of

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

.

Parry Gripp in the studio with voice artists Kelly Osbourne and Jess Harnell for the Disney cartoon

The 7D

. PHOTO: Disney

114

115