SHENECA SHARPE
Staff Writer
Students from Fredonia made the decision to create a collaboration of music and creativity by having a local music lock-in on Saturday, Dec. 3. Eann Robinson, a senior music business major, with his friend Kiman Baldon or “DJ360,” a senior audio production major, hosted the event for anybody with any form of musical talent, ranging from songwriting to producing, to collaborate with each other and to build each other’s skills and connections in the music business.
“Since everyone knows this is my last semester, I wanted to do this lock-in to promote creativity and for even a possible ‘7/11’ mixtape to come in the works in the future,” said Robinson.
As the night began, it immediately started with students working together and viewing each other’s projects to see what they can do to make it better. What was noticeable was the immediate familiarity that was present throughout people who’ve most likely never met, but all had one thing in common: the love of music. People had a certain love of sampling music from a different genre and from a different time especially with one of the producers named “Esco on the Beat” who had a beat named “Ungrateful,” which sampled an old R&B song that gave it a completely different feel from what you would hear on the radio today.
“Sampling old songs can create an old feel. It was the foundation of what us producers are doing, and we use it as inspiration to create what we know now,” said “Esco on the Beat,” a freshman audio communications major.
It wasn’t just the men who had some influence into the night of creativity and inspiration, as the ladies created a platform of their own to build upon. Daquella Blacks has a vision to create a music label not just for music, but for inspiration and the uplifting of women in the music industry. Blacks’ goal is to change the stigma that men can only successfully run a music label. She has her mind set on creating the norm that black women can be the CEOs and do it successfully without people thinking that she needs a man in order to make that dream into a reality.
“I want to change the idea that men can be the only one to run a label. There’s a stigma that women can’t or aren’t allowed to do that, but I’m going to change that so that other women can feel, and eventually do, the same,” said Blacks, a senior music industry major.
This music lock-in was more than just creating wonderful music for others to enjoy. It was about the empowerment of people of color, that they’re more than the stereotypes that are put on them. The whole night explained it all. A night of empowerment, creativity and excellence happened, and it was all because of the work that these people put in, simply to show that there’s more behind the scenes.
It’s only a matter of time before people can see the hard work and dedication that was put in, and as a fly on the wall, there’s definitely more to come from them and the public just can’t wait to see what’s hidden behind the curtain.