The talents of students at a liberal arts college such as Benedictine are looked at with honor.
This year, many students have decided to use these talents to sing and produce music to share with their classmates, friends and family.
These students look at the opportunity to produce and record their own music as a blessing.
In fact, “Blessed” may just become the name of singer-songwriter Caitlin Stegeman’s upcoming CD.
“I might call it ‘Blessed,’ because I am,” she said. “Blessed with gifts I can offer the world, blessed with a loving family and loyal friends, blessed with warmth, shelter, good food, and a great education. Blessed with good health, a heart for loving, passion and compassion, and the ability to find joy in the simplest things in life.”
Stegeman said her album is a mix between acoustic and folk music, with religious influence included. Some of the songs feature piano accompaniment by Brandon Boesch.
The goal of the CD is to get her message out, to relate to people and to give them hope.
“I want to share my life with people, to make them think. My songs are honest and raw. I write them for me, not for anyone else,” Stegeman said.
Stegeman is recording her album with the help of student producer John Rumpza.
“John is skilled at what he does,” Stegeman said. “He knows how to work the recording program and equipment and has a good ear for the music. More importantly, however, John is great company, a wonderful friend, and always patient. I’m blessed to have the opportunity not only to work with him, but also to have his friendship.”
A unique experience has been recording in a college dormitory.
“The college dormitory setting makes things a little complicated, but all the equipment he uses is quite sufficient for me,” Stegeman said. “I don’t mind singing into a closet with soundproof foam as long as I get the sound I’m looking for. It’s actually pretty nice. I find the setting comforting now that I’m used to it.”
According to a Facebook event created by Stegeman, the album will cost $10 and be released sometime this semester.
Rumpza started recording when he was in the fifth grade.
“We had a keyboard that could record 16-track songs on it and once I figured out how to use it, I fell in love and never stopped making music,” Rumpza said. “I still use that keyboard today, actually.”
Rumpza started recording for other students last year.
He has completed two albums and is currently working on four.
He has produced R&B, hip-hop, folk, alternative and religious choral music so far.
“I am pretty good at imitating styles, so as long as artists can show me a couple of songs that they want to base their sound off of, I can usually help them get the sound they are looking for,” Rumpza said.
Besides recording CDs for other students, Rumpza is also in the process of creating his own album set to debut later this spring.
The songs are alternative, laid back and reflective with influences from folk, hip-hop and pop, and also features several instrumental tracks.
“I sing about love, heartbreak, the world and about people,” Rumpza said. “The goal is to put something out there that matters, something that will reach people’s hearts.”
The creation of the CD is helping in Rumpza’s Discovery Day project on marketing an album on a college campus.
Another band that recently put out a CD is Timberline.
The band played an album release show Feb. 3 for “In Retrospect.”
“We write most songs about past relationships,” said guitarist and vocalist Andrew McGown. “For me writing is an essential part of coming to peace with the past, hence the album title, ‘In Retrospect.’ The goal of our CD is to connect people with the songs that we are passionate about and a message which we are passionate about.”
The other members of the band are vocalist/guitarist Melissa Hill and percussionist Lorenzo Nunez.
Hill and McGown wrote the lyrics of their songs.
“It was really awesome being able to collaborate on our music,” Hill said. “Andrew and I have been writing separately for a long time, but being able to come together and add something new to each other’s songs was really awesome. And getting to spend time in a studio working on our music was definitely a learning experience.”
The idea of an album became a reality after many of their friends continued to ask for copies of their music, and their desire to share their story.
“For me, the decision to do the CD came out of just wanting to share my love for music with other people,” Hill said. “I love to sing and write and it’s just exciting to be able to see all of the work we have done come to completion with this project. Andrew and I have been trying to collaborate for a long time, and it’s pretty exciting to know that we have finally been able to do it.”
Timberline’s CD is available for $5 upon request and will soon be available on iTunes.
Rumpza is also helping student band Top Shelf record songs with their up and coming album.
That group, consisting of guitarists/vocalists Gabe Telepak and Phil Ward and drummer Doug Ramp, recently completed a tour of the BC dorms.
“I think it’s important for people who don’t have experience with the business or professional side of music to understand the insane amount of work that goes into making an album,” said McGown of Timberline. “I had a very idealistic view of recording or producing a CD that came crashing down. I have a lot of respect for all of the students who are recording and producing albums while taking classes full time.”
