OC alumnus following lifelong dream

Online Photo

 

Not every college graduate can pursue his or her lifelong dream right out of college. One Oklahoma Christian University graduate is doing just that.

Logan Rine graduated from Oklahoma Christian in the spring of 2013 with a degree in mass communications and creative media. Rine had been working at Fraternity Advertising and Lloyd Entertainment doing videography work, but when he got the chance to pursue his dream of playing music, he gladly seized it.

“For me, when that opportunity came along it wasn’t a decision, it was a ‘duh,’” Rine said.

The band Rine joined, Abandon Kansas, began in 2006 when a group of friends at Friends University in Wichita, Kan. decided to pursue their love of music and start a band. In the beginning, the band traveled the country just trying to get their name out and gain support for their music. This first tour was where Rine first encountered Abandon Kansas.

The band traveled and played small concerts in people’s homes, meeting people and gaining an intimate audience.

Rine was playing in a small garage band at the time and they were asked to play with Abandon Kansas when they came through Rine’s hometown of Liberal, Kan. The next time they came to Liberal, Rine offered his home as a place for the band to stay that night.

“That’s where we hit it off and we got to be good friends,” Rine said.

Abandon Kansas signed with Gotee Records in 2009 and released two records and played various festivals and tours. In 2012 though, the band split with the record label in order to follow their own creative outlet.

Rine was in school at the time but was keeping up with the band. When he got a call in November 2012 to film a Christmas music video for Abandon Kansas, he readily accepted.

“That was when our friendship really took off, when we worked together,” Rine said.

After that, Rine helped the band get some gigs and kept in contact. It paid off in January 2013 when they asked him to come out to Nashville where they were cutting their three-song EP called “A Midwest Summer.” Rine spent eight days filming documentary footage for them.

A few months later a spot in the band opened up when their guitar player, Brad Foster, left to pursue mission work and focus on his personal life. The band immediately turned to Rine to fill in short-term. Short-term soon turned into long-term.

“I don’t believe it was ever Logan’s plan to be where he is right now,” senior Daniel Wakeland, Rine’s roommate said. “He never came to school to learn about music or being a rock star, but one thing led to another and eventually the right doors opened for him.”

Rine joined the band for their next tour and said it was a dream come true.

“Anybody who knows me … knows I’ve wanted to do this since middle school, elementary school, I don’t know,” Rine said. “They’ve known I wanted to do music. I just feel like I never really, truly had the opportunity to be in a group of other individuals who wanted to do the same thing.”

Rine said his family was hesitant but has been extremely supportive.

“I think they thought I was an idiot for a little while but they are proud of me,” Rine said.

Rine’s younger sister Lorie is a senior at Oklahoma Christian.

“I couldn’t be happier for my brother,” Lorie Rine said. “Playing guitar is what he loves to do, so I’m glad he has the chance to live his dream.”

Abandon Kansas just kicked off their next East Coast tour with Clemency and Seabird. They also plan on continuing their Living Room Tour sessions where they play in someone’s house in an intimate, interactive environment.

“It’s cool for me because I was on the other side of it just a year ago,” Rine said. “I was a fan asking questions and now I’m playing in a band I’ve been a fan of for years.”

The atmosphere at Oklahoma Christian played a big role in getting Rine to where he is today.

“I really, truly found my own faith in a community of people doing the same thing,” Rine said. “I fell in love with community … with people around me at all times of the day and night.”

This love of people is important for Rine, who spends a lot of time on the road traveling and meeting new people.

“Every day is a new story,” Rine said. “Every day you get back in the van and head toward the next city there is going to be a story for sure.”

Being new to the professional music scene, Rine still feels overwhelmed with the people he gets to meet from world-class videographer Time Dodd, who will fill in on drums on their current tour, to a man named Bruce they stayed with in Buffalo, New York, who used to book for Billy Joel. Abandon Kansas also recently played a wedding for a former member of  the band Haste the Day, which Rine was a fan of growing up.

“I get to meet incredible people,” Rine said. “I am completely star struck most of the time.”

Rine still does film work when he is home in Edmond, pursuing his area of study. He also pays bills and tries to find time to be with his friends and family.

“I think he is a great example of someone who continually chooses to do what he loves doing,” Wakeland said. “He chose to come earn a degree in a field he enjoys, creative media, and it just so happens he got his big break with the band while doing video work for them. He’ll tell you it’s all luck, but in reality, he’s put himself in his position and he should be proud of it.”

Not everyone is faced with an opportunity like Rine’s but he has advice for those seeking their own dream.

“Never ever, ever get caught up in your plans,” Rine said. “Your plans, your dreams I think are way too small. When you finally let go and realize you don’t truly control your destiny, that there is a God who loves you and cares about you, he has his path laid out for you. He knows you better than you know yourself. Don’t settle.”

Abandon Kansas will be in Oklahoma City on Oct. 25 at the Twisted Root Gallery. The event is open to all ages and will also feature Clemency, Good Culture and Seabird.