Danny Humbarger, a freshman at the University, already has his music on iTunes after getting a guitar as a gift a couple of Christmases ago.

He started playing his guitar and would sing along, which eventually led to him recording his own acoustic EP.

“I just kept going with the flow to see what happened,” Humbarger said.

Humbarger likes music: he studies it, listens to it and plays it.

Humbarger’s two main goals right now are to record an album and go on tour; even though he thinks the likelihood of reaching these goals is slim, he still likes the idea.

“It would be the sweetest thing ever,” Humbarger said.

Currently, Humbarger plays bass in the orchestra and is learning a general overview of music for his major, but his focus is in recording technology, and he is using that to further his music career.

“I’m trying to record my own album with my own equipment, but it’s really hard,” Humbarger said.

Humbarger writes his own music, but usually includes some cover songs when he performs.

“I like playing all my own songs because it’s an extension of what I felt,” Humbarger said. “It’s like you have something to say, but you think it’d be said better in a song.”

He has made an acoustic EP, which he put on iTunes and is now trying to raise money for a charity, Free the Birds, by donating 25 percent of all sales.

Free the Birds raises money for women and children affected by human sex trafficking. Humbarger’s favorite musician Steve Moakler founded the charity.

“Steve is my absolute favorite, and he’s so nice in person,” Humbarger said. “Anytime I hear his music I think, ‘I wish I could do that.'”

Humbarger has noticed his music career has changed since leaving his hometown of Bryan, Ohio, and coming to the University.

“I’m a lot more outgoing because I barely know anyone here, and it’s easier to let yourself go,” Humbarger said.

The first performance Humbarger did was in Bryan, and he said he did not know what he was doing or what to say in between songs.

“There were only like eight people there,” Humbarger said. “It was fun, but I only made a dollar out of pity.”

At the first show Humbarger played at Howard’s Club H in October 2011, he met Cory Breth, another musician, who has mentored Humbarger since.

Humbarger said Breth has been his biggest supporter since he has been at the University.

“I saw a lot of potential and drive in him,” said Breth, a senior at the University. “I wanted to mentor him and help develop his talent because I’ve been a local musician seeking a mentor, so I figured I could be that for him.”

Jessie Haught, the booking manager at Howard’s, noticed Humbarger’s talent too.

“He’s a really good songwriter and has really good stage presence,” Haught said. “He always brings out a lot of people too.”

Haught described Humbarger’s music as acoustic pop, which many people enjoy.

“His music is very fun,” Breth said. “The songs are catchy and relatable. It’s just fun to listen to.”

Humbarger said the best feeling is when people sing along to his songs.

“All my friends know the words and sing along when I play,” Humbarger said. “It’s like they can understand the way I was feeling.”