cmc live spring tour twenty-twelve!!

Blog-reading friends!

Welcome.

Our weeks here are super jammed packed between classes; managing artists; tour planning and preparation. We spend hours upon hours doing what we love. For the artists, that includes songwriting, rehearsing with a full band (made up of any combination of the 28 of us), performing each week, and recording what they’ve written in our own recording studio! Tech students are always in the mix as they do all of the technical aspects for our live shows (lighting, audio, stage crew…) as well as producing, engineering and mixing tracks in the studio.

Everybody has been working extra hard to prepare for our big project for the semester—a live tour! (no joke, we get to hit the road in a bus & show everyone what we’ve been up to…I’m so excited). Business students like me have been non-stop preparing for everything tour related. We are in charge of everything from budgeting to booking hotels to publicizing in every way possible and more.

(my roomie rachel crafted these incredible posters..& the logo below!)

Last week, we presented everything we’ve done for tour to Nashville local Ryan Lampa (Tour and Road Manager for tobyMac and brother to recording artist Rachael Lampa). He was encouraging in the advice he gave and was impressed by the work we’ve put in, so far. It was very helpful and inspiring to hear from someone who has done nearly every job on the road from the time he was very young. Later in the day, Lampa shared about the ups and downs of the various jobs he’s held in the industry as well as stories about road life with tobyMac and the Diverse City Band. (Did I mention he looks about 30 & came over on a motorcycle? rad.)

Since coming to CMC, we have heard our share of cautionary tales of the industry along with very humorous stories from industry folks themselves.

After 28 or so hours of tour rehearsal at Libscomb University, this weekend, we are all ready and raring to get this show on the road! We leave early Thursday morning and have our first stop in Indiana, that night!

Below is the official CMC Spring Tour 2012 press release that I put together and sent out to each of our venues…

NASHVILLE MUSIC PROGRAM SENDS STUDENTS ON MIDWEST SPRING TOUR

The Contemporary Music Center gives students the opportunity to share their semester of experiences with their peers by visiting college campuses and venues from March 29-April 3.

Nashville, Tenn –March 16, 2012 –With a truck filled to the brim with a state of the art sound system, lighting rig, professional video and killer gear, and a bus filled with 30 Christian college students like you, the CMC is hitting the road on its bi-annual college campus tour. CMC students will play an action-packed concert of original pop, rock, folk, indie and electronic music to audiences throughout the Midwest and will play alongside some of the campus's best original bands.

The Contemporary Music Center (CMC) is a semester off-campus study program for music students from across the country. The CMC is located just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, and provides students the completely hands-on experience of planning and executing a week-long tour to various cities.

The tour will take place for just one week, so don’t miss live shows at the following venues:

CMC Live Spring Tour 2012 (all dates subject to change)

March 29—Indiana Wesleyan University/Marion, IN

March 30—The Union/Naperville, IL

March 31—Trinity International University/Deerfield, IL

April 1—Judson University/Elgin, IL

April 2—Greenville College/Greenville, IL

April 3—The Hardscuffle/Brentwood, TN

-###-

Media/Tour Press Correspondent:

Heather Murray, befreex3@gmail.com


peace.
xo-hm

"You hold me in the free fall"

(title comes from royal tailor's song "hold me together" from the album black & white)

CMC sure has its share of surprises throughout the semester! With just six total staff members, it truly amazes me the number of connections each one has in this town alone. Each one speaks with ease about their friends, generally settling for first names—most mentions likely go to “Kelly” (Clarkson, of course) and “the Jars boys” (aka Jars of Clay). Clarkson’s back-up singers are CMC alums and the director of our program taught the guys of Jars of Clay when they attended Greenville College.

From week to week, all twenty-eight of us are given chances to make connections and spend time with people involved in the industry at varying levels. From conversations with long-time managers of world renowned artists, to intimate indie performances on the stage we call home for the semester, to load-ins and staffing major tour stops, it all happens here in Music City.

(our room is set for the shoot!--photo credit: Brenna Lucero)

Earlier this month, recently signed and Grammy-nominated Provident act Royal Tailor came to our building in Brentwood for a live video shoot. While the majority of music videos are shot using playback, the young band showcased the stamina of their stage presence and skill by playing live the whole night. 

(student TK King filming--photo credit: Brenna Lucero)

The band’s bio is spot-on describing their sound as one that “evokes Bruno Mars, Maroon 5 and a hint of Michael Jackson, Royal Tailor captures audiences with an infectious musicality…”

The energetic, soulful quartet originally met while attending Bible College in the St. Louis area and played around while ministering to youth in the area. After playing a battle of the bands showcase for INO records, guitarist DJ Cox said the guys got their hopes up only to find that nothing would initially come of it.

Refusing to give in, the now-Nashville based guys played out at every opportunity before finding themselves with a gig at Leeland Mooring’s Texas home church. According to Cox, the band gained the attention of PMG’s A&R team because Mooring got a hold of their EP.

A week later, the band signed a recording contract and began working on the fifty songs viable for their debut album. Cox noted that their career didn’t skyrocket as soon as they had hoped, as they lived in “lawyer land” for 6-8 months prior to Black & White’s May 2011 release, the first single, and a tour with labelmates Building 429.

Currently on the road with Casting Crowns through the spring, Royal Tailor has hit the ground running in regards to promotion. Just off the heels of a trip down the Grammy red carpet, the band has also been touring non-stop for months.                              

(photo credit: Brenna Lucero)

Following an engaging live set, the four bandmates and their management hung around with both CMC students and staff to talk anything from gear and early musical influences to future endeavors.

Guitarist DJ Cox grew up in VA where he played Mandolin and Acoustic by ear before discovering his mom’s various artists Funk CD. He laughed at the childhood memory, “I was like ooh man, so I stole it”. Cox discussed his “monster” pedal board—featuring a vast range of brands and effects—with resident CMC electric player Jase Hackman, and drew quite a crowd as he moved on through his guitar collection and his favorite players.

I’m always intrigued when musicians talk in detail about their gear. In many ways, it’s another language, but it creates the sounds that we music freaks live for.

Cox came back to their youth ministry roots as he spoke about the band’s current vision, visiting middle and high schools to perform and encourage kids to speak out against bullying. The passion was evident in DJ’s voice as he spoke about both the ministry and the music.

Like other semester 22 visitors, the guitarist talked on the value of taking risks in life. “It’s been a rough first year [being on a label] but whatever you’re gonna do, you just gotta get out there and do it”.

(Far Left=Guitarist DJ Cox)

(Royal Tailor at the Grammys—Photo credit: Grammy.com)

i shall post about tour prep, sooon!

be on the lookout, yall :)

thanks to everyone who's praying!

peace.

xo-hm

"shake your blues off, put your smile on"

(blog title comes from steve moakler's "best thing" from watching time run)

There is certainly something special about living in the South… Although there are days I miss the blooming trees on my beautiful home campus, Tennessee is in some ways even more gorgeous this time of year.

(photo by Jenny Leininger)

Life in Nashville has been so much more than I ever could have imagined. It truly is a big city with a small town feel. This tight-knit community (just twenty-eight students & six total staff) has been just what I needed. It's been really great getting to know everyone—we feel as if we've known each other for years instead of mere months!

Time is surely flying by, as we will be heading home in less than a month, but we are continuing to learn so much. The director of our program says because of the hands-on nature of CMC what we learn here in 14 weeks takes 3+ years to learn on your own in the industry…I’ve been soaking in every second of it! (Now you know why I don’t get to update you as often as I’d like—my apologies!) I know now, more than ever, that this is where I am supposed to be and that I could not have experienced any of this elsewhere. Through our classes and staff connections, we have the pleasure of meeting up with producers, engineers, managers, etc. who work with world-class artists and musicians on a day-to-day basis.

As a part of the business track, I’ve been managing 3 of the 15 artists who are also studying here--meet "team heather" below aka my artist roster. Along with that, the business students carry the responsibility of planning and promoting a weeklong tour of CCCU schools where the artists perform their original works and the tech students take care of audio, lights, etc. Our tour begins Thursday night in Indiana, from there we will travel to a few IL schools (Trinity was booked, but it would have been great to bring CMC to everyone there).

 (team heather--ladies first! meet kamber :)) 

(photo credit-warren pettit)

 (reppin' minnesota for team heather is gene! :)) 

(photo credit-me)

(aaand here's tom! he started the whole "team heather" thing :)) 

(photo credit-warren pettit)

Through this experience, I have not only learned an incredible amount about the industry but also so much about myself. I praise God for this amazing opportunity each day, and for those at Trinity & in my family who made it logistically possible.

As I was warned, I’ve certainly become attached to this place… Do I really have to come home for one last year of normal school??

 (some CMC friends & I downtown Nashville)

(one of many visits to our favorite park close to our apartments)

(class visit to musician Nathan Lee’s warehouse home/studio/performance space)

 (My roommate Rachel & I at the historic Ryman Auditorium to see Ben Rector & Needtobreathe!!)

(Needtobreathe onstage at the Ryman)

(CMC retreat in Gatlinburg, TN—Smoky Mountains)

check back for more fun, soon! :)

love yall for readin'

peace.

xo-hm

rainy day records..

i don't know about you, but some records just sound better with the backdrop of a rainy day.


the downpour hasn't let up, today, in nashville.. normally, i might be somewhat bothered by this. not the case, today. i quite enjoy it, to be honest. there's a peace to this rainy day in music city. that said, i had the privilege of letting these few records wash over me as i went about my indoor activities, this afternoon.


first up, side A of matt wertz's weights & wings on limited edition vinyl.
that's right, just the 'weights' side, featuring my favorites (if you can truly pick favorites when it comes to such a spectacularly seasoned singer/songwriter like wertz) "somebody's gonna love you" & "gonna be good". give it a spin. :)

next is gavin degraw's chariot stripped. just as the title states, it's a completely stripped-down version of his debut recording. i don't spend time with it as often as i probably should, but boy do i enjoy it when i do.. gavin's vocal is strong & distinct, unlike any i've come in contact with..i've wanted to see him live for quite awhile (since before high school!). i finally have a chance to do so, next week! (fingers crossed!)


give a listen to gavin's incredible cover of sam cooke's "a change is gonna come" (the closing track to this special album) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGUwDShVFUs

what are some of your favorite rainy day records?? i'd love to hear about 'em :)

(comment below)

"twenty-one! havin' fun."

(title comes from the banter on matt wertz's if it ain't broke (live in seattle) album!)

sooo i've pretty much faltered at keeping up with this whole blogging thing..

i've decided that i will likely post more pictures than words, although this has been difficult, as you know i LOVE words & writing. i simply haven't been able to devote the time that i would like to...


here are some of my favorite moments captured on my birthday (yes, i know that was nearly monthS ago..):

the view from the stairs going down to my apartment, the morning of 1/15!

SO much better than snowy cold.

before heading out with the family, my cmc one sang to me ("no pressure, but this is a music school")

i knew right then that i would love them! :)

the bros & parents took me to explore, downtown, as i had the afternoon free..

finally saw the walk of fame! here's the star of one of my favorite guitarists.

goober shot! at the hard rock

my first dinner as a 21 year old.. it was so good!

the waitress asked me if i wanted anything stronger, but sweet tea's where it's at for me! 

couldn't eat it, but i got the cherry!

and the wish! (which has yet to come true, so i can't share it ;) )

momma was creepin' as i browsed the vinyl at earnest tubb's downtown.

my tired family..wish stacey could have been here, too.

souvenir nashville shot glass from a tourist shop..haha 

between dinner & the family pics, we had our first cmc group adventure to the opryland hotel (the grandest hotel for miles around..seriously, look this thing up) for a photo scavenger hunt (which turned out to be awesome)! good times getting to know each other, already. it's funny to look back on that night & remember barely knowing each other..especially compared with all we know now haha..

overall, the most different birthday i've ever experienced, but surely one of the best yet!

i'm so very thankful for everybody who made the first day of my 21st year a wonderful one. :)

peace of Christ!

xo-hm

(side note: mom's camera is lost..wake up, cannon, it's twenty-twelve!)