B.R.A.N To Release First CD Sept. 14

by Katie Brooks, student newswriter, (254) 710-1961

The Baylor Rising Artist Network (B.R.A.N.) will debut its first CD of original music written and performed by seven Baylor students at a release party at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at Seasons Creamery near the North Village Residential Community.

The album, "The Baylor Rising Artist Network: Volume One," will feature artists John Boswell, Seth Philpott, Zaire Adams, The Winters, Friend of Nick, Denise Gearn and Esteban Alverez, according to Dan Long, graduate assistant of student activities for campus programming.

"The CD is a great mix. We have everything from acoustic rock to country and more," said Amy Reeves, project coordinator for B.R.A.N. and assistant director of student activities for campus programming.

"The process was new to several of the performers and was educational. Learning the recording and producing process is invaluable to the students," Long said.

The CD costs $10, with proceeds benefiting creation and production of the CD and further performance opportunities for B.R.A.N. students, such as the Acoustic Café series that happens in the spring semesters, Long said. Also, the student musicians will be able to purchase some copies at cost and sell them to promote their music.

The CD compilation project began in January 2006 to give talented artists the chance to audition, record and promote their music. Each artist presented their original material to a panel of judges, said Brittany Temple, graduate assistant for special performances.

Each student attended a 2-hour workshop to audition. The workshop sessions covered information about the recording process, the industry, securing an agent and manager and promoting music, according to Long.

Next, the chosen artists recorded their songs at the Troubadour Studio in McGregor, Texas, owned by Steve and Sherilyn Collins, Baylor alumni. "The Collins' share a similar passion for seeing students learn and grow during the recording and CD promotion process," Long said.

The release party Sept. 14 will feature live music and ice cream samples, Temple said. Copies of the CD's will be sold at the release party and in the Campus Program Center in the SUB.

According to Long, the project exceeded all expectations and B.R.A.N. has received positive feedback. "We hope that these students will be able to use the album to further their interests in music, maybe even pursuing it as a career," he said.

For more information about B.R.A.N, contact Temple at 710-4994, or Reeves at 710-4919.