A new wave of talent is here and they want you to hear them.
“Pass the Aux” is the second annual live presentation of capstone projects by students in the Music Industry Program at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. A cast of twenty-five students will perform, speak, present short films and make multimedia presentations to highlight their projects. The event is free and open to the public and takes place live, on stage at Lani Hall on April 20th from 10am to 4pm (Please RSVP if you plan to attend.)
Capstone projects are a requirement for the Music Industry program. Seniors enroll in the capstone course and develop projects that pursue their own particular passion, be it scholarship, entrepreneurship, or artistry (and often a unique combination of the three). Projects range from recitals and performances of one’s own music and discussion of marketing plans and social media to seeking social justice in music. Students will present their projects in presentations that range from musical performances to short films and oral presentations.
This year’s event will bring special guests from the music industry. Lee Anderson, executive vice president and managing director of Wasserman Music, is the guest speaker. Anderson has provided executive leadership for an agency that represents artists in and outside of dance and electronic music. This year’s musical guest is Michael J. Woodard, a singer currently signed to Unsub Records, founded by singer Katy Perry and a subsidiary of Capitol Records.
Many of the projects span the cutting edge of musical and scientific research. Capstone student Indie Adamich’s project will showcase a short film she created about the healing power of music. Her project draws on the well-documented connection between music and brain activity, as well as her personal experience with her grandfather, who was comforted by music as an Alzheimer’s patient.
“People who suffer from dementia can forget their children’s names but still remember the lyrics to a song they grew up listening to,” Adamich said. “Researching this is absolutely fascinating. I recently read the book by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us which was a big influence.”
Many of the major projects involve creating original art. This is especially true for the challenges of creating an EP release. Participants explore a multitude of styles, ranging from Tommy de Bourbon’s exploration of pedal steel guitar on his self-titled EP to Matteo Murphy’s Gonzo-style eclecticism on his Sequential cutting. Each student has a unique style and a unique voice to share.
“My style is R&B, but my music is more cinematic and expansive,” said Ashley Nicole Green. Her EP, What lovers do, reflects years of vocal refinement and artistic development. “There is a very complex vocal layering. I want my music to feel intense.
The music industry depends on innovation and student projects deliver results. Senaido Dorado will present virtual reality as a force in music making, where the benefits and pitfalls can be both fascinating and strange. VR can use embedded programming to learn musical instruments and turn your living room into a front-row concert experience.
The projects focus on the business side of the music industry and social justice at the same time. Jennifer Alvarez is researching ways to make ticket distribution and sales fairer. Chris Hastings examines how the labor economy of digital scoring disadvantages composers, demonstrating his own musical composition in the process. Gabriella Ruggiero takes a deep dive into why songwriters have been stifled by antitrust laws and are at a disadvantage when negotiating contracts with record companies.
Passion is always a requirement. Ivy Adaoag created a magazine called “Off the Record”, a place for interviews, photography and art. She brings attention to underrepresented voices both on campus and in Los Angeles as a whole. The project features a collaborative team of writers and photographers, and live broadcasts accompany magazine releases.
“This is a passion-driven initiative,” Adaoag said. “I want to empower and uplift artists through storytelling.”
These are just a few of the projects in what promises to be a unique opportunity to see and hear the future of the music industry.
“Pass the Aux” will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 10 am to 4 pm in Lani Hall at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Visit student web page to RSVP and for more information. The event will also be broadcast live.
