By Dustin Purcell

Producing a CD and receiving airplay may not be as difficult as it seems to many amateur musicians. If you ask Hugh Wygmans, he might tell you it’s not easy, but also it’s not as tough as it looks.

Wygmans, a musician from Ottawa, and his independent rock band Question of Honor released their first album "Canopic Jars" last June. Wygmans formed the band with his brother David and Ken Pitchford in early 1998.

"We’re calling it hard pop," Wygmans said of the band’s sound. Wygmans, a songwriter, not only wrote the group’s first album but also produced and mixed it.

"Half the tracks were cut in Jackson, Mich., in a studio I was working in," he said, "and the rest were recorded in my basement."

The band used many friends as additional musicians on the album. Wygmans’ wife, Marty Hungerford Wygmans, even sang backup on a song titled "Alone." Marty Wygmans is the Director of Project Success at IVCC.

"Hugh is a bit of a freak," she said with a laugh.

The support of family and friends has helped Question of Honor receive airplay on over 65 radio stations across the country. They simply sent a five-track demo to radio stations and have been in the top 30 of six of those stations.

Question of Honor has also licensed two of their song, "Hold Me" and "Play With Me," to Lisa Kotin Productions for use in the independently produced film "Temporary Girl." They were also featured on the "Rock Out HIV" compilation album.

In October 2000, despite not having a record company or manager to back them, Question of Honor released "Canopic Jars" nationally. The album is available through Best Buy and Amazon.com.

As for the future of the group, Wygmans said that Question of Honor will go on even though the other two members have relocated.

"There will definitely be a second album," he said.