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"Now here's a story 'bout Steve Hanson. An Alaskan cowboy that really changed our salad dressin's," sings Xander Ripley-Jaakola in open lyric of his song "Ranch."
Only 16 years old, Ripley-Jaakola released his first album last December under the name Xander Muxic. Aptly named "The Condiment Album," the Cloquet teen spent about six months writing and recording the songs, all while juggling high school at Harbor City International School in Duluth.
He made the album in his parents' basement, using a home-made sound booth constructed out of egg cartons and played all the instruments except drums...