Anyone in the mood for an early Christmas gift? Blue Hawk Records (BHR) is set to release their 26th compilation album on Dec. 5 featuring five talented student artists, including their first ever band.
Monmouth’s very own Record Label Strategies class along with help from Professor Joe Rapolla and Lakehouse Recording Studios curate a collective album during the given semester. It’s something both students and professors alike, wait for at the end of each fall and spring season. As usual it’s packed with talented student musicians and artists who get the ultimate opportunity to record their original music. Thanks to BHR and the team behind the project, this writer was able to hear the album early and get some inside inspiration from the artists.
The album kicks off with “Familiar Stranger” by Julia Gale. This song has the most beautiful rustic folk sound which coincides perfectly with the vision of the album. You can almost imagine “Familiar Stranger” playing as you explore the wonders of nature. Gale’s voice is carried beautifully and reminds me a lot of The Highwomen, in particular, Brandi Carlile.
Her artistry is so clear, so you don’t have to wonder about who she is throughout the song. The chorus of, “Life has gone by a whole eighteen years and a couple days/I don’t wanna leave it in the past/Don’t wanna dig another grave/But life’s passing me by like a familiar stranger/And I’m terrified of the danger,” is such an honest depiction of change. Especially being a college student, there’s so many things in our lives that change at a rapid pace. This song encapsulates the way life can change quickly and how keeping up can be a challenge. At the end of the song it wraps up that feeling with music setting you free and being able to face the challenging changes ahead. It’s the perfect mini story with satisfying closure at the end.
The next track is “Brand New” by Clark-Cassius Appling. Growing up around music and freestyling with his brothers, his creativity has continued to evolve throughout his life. Appling explained that “Brand New” was created by him and a friend, who improvised the song with an R&B beat. The song’s repeated line of “I said I’m sorry girl,” is undeniably catchy, so much so that you’ll find yourself humming it (I know I have).
While it’s a total, R&B and pop mix, the instrumentals give it a cinematic sort of feel. As Appling explained it, “I truly feel that I embody all kinds of music and go from Sam Cooke to Queen. My music style isn’t very focused, which is one of the things I like about it.” Appling’s creative mind clearly takes inspiration from some of the musical greats. He also expressed his immense gratitude for the studio process and creating this with his friends. My favorite part of this track is the layering vocals at the end. It almost gives it a The Kid LAROI feel and it’s a really cool production touch.
Following Appling’s song is the calming sounds of Kashi Deepak from the band, Half Right with “Aphrodite.” Deepak sings, “Aphrodite lays awake/Oh she hasn’t slept in days/Tears from her eyes warm her face/Another lover took her place.” The song is about a girl being stuck in the “ruminating sadness” of a breakup, but the experience is one of both the good, bad, and growth. It has such a satisfying folk aspect to it which makes it poetic and allows the story to unfold. For my pop fans, this track also has the storytelling aspect of a “folklore” or “evermore.”
Deepak brought this breakup track to life by really honing in on that story aspect. It has themes of being stuck, heartbroken, and even escapism. “I think our song is a fun little story that is interesting to listen to. I think people would enjoy something about it on the first listen, whether it’s the guitar, vocals, or lyrics,” Deepak said. This track certainly brings to life the theme of being earthly and in touch with nature. “Aphrodite” feels like it could be covered by indie folk band, Fleet Foxes.
Taking us to another story driven melody is Mary Louisa Jodry and her song, “Love Song.” I personally think the song title is a bit ironic considering it’s not the mushy love song you’ll typically listen to. Sorry, Taylor Swift “Lover” fans! Jodry explained that this song is about falling away from someone you love. Like any good artist with a creative outlet, she explained that this song had evolved periodically. “This song adapted a lot over time and since writing it, I have matured so the song did too. I think it is a great representation of who I am as an artist today while still holding true to the integrity of the song and juvenile feelings,” She said.
My favorite thing about this track is its blending of pop and musical theatre production and vocal styles. It’s definitely not a combination heard often which makes the track interesting and enticing. The lyrics of, “I’ll keep writing love songs in my room/Thinking about you/And wondering what to do/For now I can only imagine you/And maybe our future too/But nothing will ever come true/There’s no story without you,” sing for themselves with heartfelt emotion.
The final song on the album is “Scraps” by the band Scenic Route composed of Alexis Finkelstein, Ethan Rosmarin, Leonardo Hernandez, and Evan Knizner. While the group members all have different stories regarding their music background, they became friends last year and felt creating together was inevitable. The band explained that their song is, “inspired by how difficult it can be to get out of toxic relationships, whether it be with a significant other or a friend.” It’s relatable in its lyrics and punk-indie emo sound. Lead singer Finkelstein said their song is a play on the mid-west emo genre. She said, “That’s what we were aiming for while writing it, so it’s heavily inspired by bands such as Modern Baseball and Title Fight!”
My favorite aspect of this track is its complex lyricism and angsty, off centered vibe. Finkelstein sings, “And it revolved around you/I’m stranded in the confines of my own mind/Left me with the straps of myself/And I don’t know if I can piece it back together or leave it to/Rot.” I also love the band and instrumentals. My first thought while listening was how incredibly talented the three musicians are, making the track sound effortless. Ending with “Scraps” leaves the album on an epic final outro.
Overall, I adored their promotions and album visuals. The photos by Katherine Grone are whimsical, free, and warm creating something so inviting. Media Promotion and Production manager, Riley Kindler who was the voice behind the “Blue Hawk Talk” podcast on WMCX 88.9 FM gave special insight to the artists and the creation process of “Down To Earth.” It’s evident that the students involved in the production class for this album truly cared about the project.
Set your alarms, notify your friends, and get ready to listen to this album for the first time on Dec. 5 wherever you stream your music. BHR will also be hosting a release party the following day, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. in Woods Theatre. There will be live music performances, food, prizes and more. What could be a better way to end the semester than celebrating our talented peers before the holiday season? It’s a great way to get “Down To Earth.”
