Before they were professional entertainers, Pataskala-born identical twins Ari and Zak Blumer formed a band, Clubhouse, with their best friend, Max Reichert, when they were college students at Ohio University.
The twins didn't expect when they first met Reichert at wrestling camp at an early age that they would eventually create music as a career. Their journey led the trio to move to Los Angeles, and the band signed with a label, 10K Projects.
At such an early age, they also would not foresee Reichert's eventual diagnosis of osteosarcoma, and the six-year battle that he would fight against the disease. The Clubhouse singer passed away on November 1, 2024, just weeks before what would have been his 30th birthday. Referring to Reichert's diagnosis, Zak said his friend's battle with cancer has been a part of Clubhouse's journey as the trio gave music their all. Reichert was the first of the three to move to L.A. in 2019 after he finished his first round of treatment at The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital in Columbus.
“After we all graduated in August of 2018 was when Max was first diagnosed. It was like we were graduating college and ready to start taking it seriously and go full speed ahead," Zak said.
The band released what Ari referred to as an "EP-turned-album" titled What a View! on Nov. 15th, culminating with the song Entertainers, which the band recorded with Australian artist Annika Schmarsel, known professionally as Alice Ivy.
“We want this to be a large, influential entity in honor of Max that makes an impact not only on awareness, but hopefully the medical treatment side of things as well”, said Zak. His twin agreed, explaining that What a View! has represented the musical project the band felt most proud to produce, with direction both sonically and lyrically that they had worked to find. They hope to continue to honor and celebrate Reichert following his death.
Edited from a Columbus Dispatch article from December 6, 2024, which was updated on February 18, 2025.
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