Tal Bachman was attending Utah State University when he decided to take charge of his life.
"I was taking political philosophy classes and was trying to see where I was going to go with my life," Bachman said during an interview prior to an in-store performance in Salt Lake City last week."I was reading Plato," he explained. "He wrote that music shapes customs and laws, and how how it actually can change society. My thoughts snapped me out of my funk then and there and I decided to pursue my songwriting dream."
But back in 1995, Bachman's style of pop rock wasn't the rave. More popular were the Seattle sounds of Nirvana and Alice In Chains.
"I had two problems to conquer with my decision," the 29-year-old musician said. "Stylistically, I was not in the running. All the songs I wrote and played after that were still out of style.
"The other problem that faced me was the fact that I had to be able to write songs that would enable me to make a career. Keeping that in mind, go back to my first problem."
Still, Bachman didn't give up. And he kept trying to land a deal.
"My last name did open some doors that could not have been opened otherwise," said Bachman, who is the son of Randy Bachman (The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive). "But usually after those open doors heard my demo, they would pass. So, my dad's name didn't really help that much."
Eventually the work paid off, however. Bachman signed with Columbia Records and released his self-titled debut album. "I had set my goals to get a record deal. And I finally got it. And I believe I got it because I kept working. I was absolutely intent on succeeding."
Bachman's musical influences revolve around some of the classic rockers -- the Beatles, Cheap Trick and Electric Light Orchestra. In fact, some of those styles are incorporated in the music he plays.
"Virtually anything that was on AM radio was what I listened to," he said. "And I also had my dad's collection of classic rock albums."
Since Bachman's album was released, his first single, "She's So High," has climbed to Billboard's Top 20 chart and the video has been in heavy rotation on MTV and VH1.
Bachman's future looks good for now, but he knows success can be fleeting.
"Getting the record deal was only the first step in many," he said. "I can't just sit back. I need to start thinking of new songs. I've got to think about the tour. If I don't, I'll become stagnant and do nothing."
Bachman, who calls Vancouver, Canada, his home, is very much devoted to music. And much like his father, he's also devoted to his LDS religion; he served a mission in Argentina before attending USU.
And he's got some strong views on how the youths of the world -- especially Mormon kids -- are acting today.
"I want to see the youths of Zion become stronger," he said. "I get disgusted when these kids rebel for rebellion's sake. They don't have to be gentiles.
"And parents -- talk to your kids. Get to know what they're listening to. Get to know what they're getting into before it's too late. Think about the future."
As for Bachman's own future goals, he's got some ideas. "I'd like to run for office," he said with a laugh. "It's actually to put my music to good use.
"It means a lot to me when I meet people who like my songs. I want to be able to be proud of what I'm doing. And I want to know that my music has made a difference in people's lives.
"But if, one day, the music dries up, I'd like to see what I could do in the other disciplines of art. I'd like to write a book. Maybe a book of poetry."