John Milligan hugged his ukulele to him, hiding the signatures of the band members of ‘Walk Off the Earth’ scrawled on the back. Stepping onto his longboard, he began strumming a chord and humming.
“When it’s sunny I like to just ride around playing for people,” Milligan said. “Some days I do nothing but play music.”
Milligan, a letters and pre-law freshman, is becoming known on campus for playing his ukulele. He said he began learning about 5 years ago in lieu of buying an iPod.
“I decided to pick it up because I figured I could just play any songs I wanted to hear," Milligan said. "Who needs an iPod when I can just play my music?”
Because of the instrument’s size, Milligan carried it with him and practiced while walking between classes in high school, he said.
Over time, the instrument built a reputation for Milligan around his high school, said Steven Kappen, a mechanical engineering freshman who went to middle school and high school with Milligan.
“If you wanted to tell someone something about John you would say 'the guy who walks around playing the ukulele’ and they would be like 'yeah, I know who that guy is’,” Kappen said.
The more Milligan played, the stronger his connection to the instrument and music became, he said.
“It was a crutch for a while,” Milligan said. “I got it pretty soon after some hard parts in my life. Before I had it I guess I just tried to force my way through problems. [Now] I’ve learned to kind of express myself through songs that I write.”
Milligan said he does not save or write down his original songs, because he uses them to sort through his thoughts.
Kappen said that as they have gotten older, the ukulele has helped Milligan become more open.
“Music has always been a big part of his identity,” Kappen said. “He likes to share his happiness with those around him. Carrying around the ukulele is an extension of that.”
Milligan said he plays his ukulele wherever he is. While riding his longboard he sings well-known songs or plays random chords.
Since learning ukulele, he has also learned how to play guitar, piano and harmonica, Milligan said.
Caleb Brown, a broadcast and electronic media sophomore, said he met Milligan in August when he was singing and Milligan joined in.
“I was downstairs in the basement of Boren [Hall] playing music, and he came down with his ukulele and just started playing and singing with me,” Brown said. “We played for a while and introduced ourselves. We bonded over that.”
Brown plays the guitar and sings, but picked up ukulele in November after being encouraged by Milligan. Now they are good friends and play together several times a week, Brown said.
“My initial impression of John was 'wow, this guy is really outgoing and he really just doesn't care what people think about him',” Brown said. “He's definitely a genuine guy who is who he is no matter what.”
Brown said Milligan is a free spirit who encourages others to get out of their comfort zone through his laid-back personality and playing his ukulele.
“One of his favorite phrases is ‘hakuna matata’, it embodies his whole personality,” Brown said. “People say you can come to college and be whoever you want, but a lot of times they end up finding their little group and acting just like them. John shows that he is definitely his own person, and people love him because of that.”
However, not everyone understands Milligan’s intentions when they see him playing, Brown said.
“A lot of people can be very judgmental when they see others doing something that is not necessarily normal,” Brown said. “They don't know what it's like to be in his shoes. If everyone is the same, then there is no beauty in individuality. I think that’s where John comes in and really does an exceptional job.”
Kappen said that Milligan is well-intentioned and looks to create a positive atmosphere on campus through his music.
“He gets something from giving [a happy] feeling to everybody,” Kappen said. “He thrives off that and gets dividends from what he gives everyone else.”
