Will Be Held at Woods Theater on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Student-run record label, Blue Hawk Records, is holding its first open auditions for all Monmouth students; students can audition for its newest compilation record in Woods Theater on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Organized by Professor Joe Rapolla and Monmouth’s Music Industry students in 2013, Blue Hawk Records was designed to give participants a first-hand look at what it takes to write, produce, and distribute original music. This unique experience allows education to transcend the classroom, and provides students with the opportunity to better understand the industry they hope to be a part of in the future.
Blue Hawk Records acknowledges the various career paths that can stem from a love of music, and thus encourages students to pursue the area that interests them most; these areas include talent scouting, artist promotion and development, live music and record release, as well as artwork, packaging, sales, and marketing material.
In putting together three previous diverse compilations from scratch, Music Industry students have gained invaluable insight and expertise useful for a future profession. This semester, Blue Hawk Records will extend this experience to any Monmouth student willing to audition for the label’s fourth EP next week in Woods Theater. Acts will be judged by a panel of senior student record executives and Professor Rapolla. Chosen artists will be offered a spot on the compilation album, and any students not selected will be offered other ways to become involved with the campus music scene, like playing shows through Blue Hawk Records’ sister organization, the Music Alliance.
Mike Burke, President of Blue Hawk Records, thinks that opening auditions is a huge step in the right direction for the organization.
“It allows artists as well as our team to gain a more realistic experience, sourcing talent from a much larger and diverse group of musicians,” he says. “We’re hoping to get more involvement from many of the singers and songwriters across campus that may not have had a way to develop their material beforehand.”
Burke also adds that holding auditions will help Blue Hawk Records operate on a more professional level. “It’ll be more difficult to get a song developed and recorded, but the reward will be outstanding for the artist,” he says.
Rosie Belonis, General Manager of Blue Hawk Records, encourages students to audition because the organization takes music production very seriously. “Students will not only get the chance to showcase their talent,” she says, “but they’ll get the chance to record in a professional studio and learn the ins and outs of recording.”
Upon being accepted to the label, participants will be invited to Lakehouse Recording Studios in Asbury Park, NJ to record and produce their material. Blue Hawk Records has used Lakehouse Recording Studios to produce its last three EPs. Jesse Leigh, Applied Music Industry 3 student, adds that participants “will work with a crazy talented producer that just worked with Lorde.”
With this new project, executives and participants of the organization hope that the record label will really take off on campus. Blue Hawk Records is constantly adapting to the music industry, and as Belonis says, “It’s all about keeping up with the times and rolling with the punches.”
As Blue Hawk Records continues to improve and give participants a unique, real world experience, students are encouraged to get involved. If you are interested in trying out for the album, email the Blue Hawk Records team at bluehawkrecords@gmail.com, or sign up on the label’s Facebook event.
PHOTO TAKEN by Francesco Furlone
