With technology moving at such a fast pace, taking a break may seem like a sensible idea. Willamette University Spanish student Daniel Bullard has taken this approach.
One of twelve students to receive a Carson grant, he decide to entitled his project “The Art of Vinyl: Analog Music in a Digital Age.”
“The university offers grants to do a creative project over the summer of
any kind,” Bullard said. “I wanted to find recordings that were either under the radar or hadn’t been formally release – at least on vinyl.”
While the CD gives way to digital mp3′s many music enthusiasts like Bullard have parlayed their interest in music history into the resurgence of vinyl’s popularity.
Under the guidance of jazz music professor Julian Snow, Bullard chose two local music acts to feature on his record release.
“Having been in Salem for two years, I have generally been impressed with local music, so I wanted to release on vinyl two Salem artists,” he said.
The 10 inch vinyl contains Stayton’s all-girl group G.A.A.G on one side and on the other experimental pop from Keizer’s Peter DeGroot.
“Really, the artists and music I ended up choosing were things that particularly appealed to me,” Bullard said.
The musicians were the pure beneficiaries of the project.
“I had always wanted to hear my music on vinyl and I didn’t have to do anything,” DeGroot said. “I never had the money to do it, so I think it’s great.”
Bullard had approximately $3,000 to complete his project. He compiled the music himself then had it mastered by Tom Nunes, who engineers and produces tracks for his own band LeNunes.
After the music was pressed the project was made complete by Willamette graduate Margaret James who made all the cover artwork.
Bullard’s venture to create an analog record of local music is available to purchase for $5 at Coffee House Cafe, Ranch Records, and a few more unannounced locations.
The grant-funded project will continue to give back. All profits go to benefit KMUZ, the community radio station that’s in the work.
