It's Out!

A year after the Baylor Rising Artist Network partnered with a professional recording studio, students are seeing the musical fruit of their sown seeds via the professionally recorded CD "The Baylor Rising Artist Network, Volume 1."
Creating and performing music can overwhelm students, and the Baylor Rising Artist Network is trying to foster musicianship with professional grade experience via the recording.
"It's an outlet for students to perform and practice their music, to fine-tune their craft, and to connect with other students in music," says Michael Riemer, coordinator of special performances for the Department of Student Activities.
The network began in 2003 with a forum that still lets students post their musical interests and experience along with contact information, but the compilation CD, released in September, has been in the works from the first. "It's something that's been a part of the vision since the beginning," Riemer says. "We want to show students the practical side and how it would be in the real world."
To produce the CD, students worked with Baylor alumni Steve (BA '96) and Sherilyn Collins (BS'98) at their Troubadour Studio in nearby McGregor. About 50 students attended two free workshops at the studio that the network required for students interested in recording, and about 20 students auditioned for the CD. 
Five solo artists and two bands made the CD and together recorded 12 tracks of original music. CDs, available in the Campus Program Center in the Bill Daniel Student Center, cost $10, and the proceeds will help pay for the production of future CDs.
The album includes band performances by The Winters (Dävid Lange, Lindsey Harris, Randy Lyle and John McPherson) and Friend of Nick (Nick Box, Mason Ingram, Austin Hooper, Michael Judd and Jake Lester).
China Spring senior Seth Philpott played at the September CD release party with Denise Hearne, a junior from Calgary, Canada, and Duncanville first-year grad student John Boswell. Philpott played his self-described "acoustic, blue-eyed soul," reminiscent of John Mayer and Tracy Chapman; Hearne played singer-songwriter folk music, bred from her love for Christian artists such as Jennifer Knapp; and Boswell's easy listening folk rock fell comfortably between Coldplay and Bob Dylan.
Their music, along with Friend of Nick's high-pitched harmonies and acoustic rock, The Winters' alternative rock (driven by a cello and violin with an electric guitar and drums), Zaire Adams' smooth, Bob Marley folk-style and Esteban Alverez's gentle jazz, give the album the casual, coffee-house sound that dominates the BRAN.
The Collinses, who have toured internationally with their alternative country band Deadman, taught students the basics of professional recording during the Rising Artist Workshops. "It was an incredible learning experience," Philpott says, "We learned how to act professionally, how to use our time, good fundamentals."
Each student recorded three songs and then chose two of the three to put on the album. The artists recorded their songs together, with everyone pitching in, whether by making suggestions, singing backup vocal as Hearne did for one artist and longtime friend, or even writing music for another band, as Nick Box from Friend of Nick did for one of The Winters' songs.
"All the students were so musically talented," Boswell says. "Playing with other students, they bring their ideas. All these minds worked together, and they gave their feedback and input."
"We went through the whole thing together," Hearne says. "It was like a group project instead of just individuals."
For some of these artists, the CD is just the beginning. Boswell, for instance, hopes to continue playing at least solo gigs during and after his next four years in the U.S. Air Force, and Philpott plans to go to Nashville, Tenn., to continue developing his music. He's grateful for the music network's support.
"BRAN opens the door for you and then gives you a push. They've only helped me. They've never hindered me."