Blue Hawk Records is Monmouth University’s student-run record label. Each semester, the club works with the Applied Music Industry class to produce a compilation CD that features Monmouth’s aspiring musicians. This semester, students and faculty members auditioned for the label and six artists were chosen to be on the new CD. The artists are recording their original songs in a professional setting at Lakehouse Recording Studios in Asbury Park. The album will be released on April 20, and a release show will be held on that date. For more information about the artists, visit the blog at bluehawkrecords.wordpress.com, or follow Blue Hawk Records on social media.
The Carousers
Members: Joey Affatato – vocals/guitar/songwriter, Andrew Jackle – drums
Genre: Punk/Alternative/Rock
How did you guys decide to form a band?
Andrew: Well, we’ve been buddies since freshman year. [Joey] was actually the fourth member of my first college band, but that only lasted for one show, and then he quit that to pursue his solo career, and then Joey felt that his solo career had really taken him as far as he could go, so he looked around for the best drummer he could find and didn’t have to look any farther than his own home because we live in the same house, and that’s how we started jamming.
Joey: He actually came over my house during winter break last year. I remember we were jamming and I was like “We should definitely form a band.”
What artists have influenced you?
Andrew: The Front Bottoms, The Clash, The Gaslight Anthem.
Joey: Green Day, The Ramones, The Menzingers, Misfits.
The Carousers: The Menzingers, Weezer, FIDLAR.
What has been your biggest musical accomplishment so far? Have you had any big gigs?
Andrew: We actually haven’t played any shows yet.
Joey: None. We’re kind of more of a recording band right now.
Andrew: Yeah, I would say our biggest accomplishment is that we’ve made probably dozens of home demos all of the same three songs, but practice makes perfect, so we’re just really hammering those in.
Joey: It’s getting tight as a band too because even though you practice a lot of the same songs, I feel like it just establishes a tightness in the group, so we’re getting really tight for future performances and for the studio coming up.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future regarding music?
Andrew: I’d like to be a rock star and go on tours and see the world with this guy by my side.
Joey: Yeah, I’d like to play a lot of shows and go on tour as well.
Dream Collaboration:
Joey: Rancid.
Andrew: It would be very cool to work with Emily Youth Project.
Dream Venue:
Joey: Starland Ballroom.
Andrew: Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Favorite Song:
Andrew: “Hex” by Lvl Up.
Joey: “Church on Sunday” and “Macy’s Day Parade” by Green Day.
Is there anything else you guys want people to know about you?
Joey: We’re an up-and-coming rock duo right now, hopefully trio soon.
Andrew: We emphasize “up-and-coming” because like we said, we haven’t actually played any shows yet, so this is still in the infantile stages, but it’s going to be growing up very quickly.
IMAGE TAKEN from Blue Hawk Records Facebook
PHOTO COURTESY of Gabriella Soroka
