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Making the most of at-home music: some student music careers are taking off outside the classroom

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Making the most of at-home music: some student music careers are taking off outside the classroom

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Content Making the most of at-home music Some student music careers are taking off outside the classroom. by Michael Gribbon A Thesis Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC ANNENBERG SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND JOURNALISM UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF ARTS (SPECIALIZED JOURNALISM) May 2024 Copyright 2024 Michael Gribbon ii Dedication This piece is dedicated to the courageous souls who, despite their fervent passion for music, have navigated the harsh realities of financial constraints and the daunting odds of success in the industry. To those individuals who have found themselves unable to pursue their musical dreams full-time, this dedication stands as a testament to your resilience and unwavering dedication to your craft. In a world where the pursuit of artistic endeavors often clashes with the pragmatic demands of life, you have faced formidable challenges with grace and grit. Your commitment to your passion, even in the face of adversity, inspires all who encounter your story. Though the path to a career in music may not seem feasible, your talents have not gone unnoticed. Whether in the boardroom, the laboratory, the classroom, or any other field you have chosen to pursue, you have brought the same creativity, discipline, and artistry that define musicianship. Your contributions to these diverse arenas enrich the fabric of society and exemplify the boundless potential of human endeavor. This dedication acknowledges and commends your resilience, your dedication, and your unwavering spirit. You have shown that while the road less traveled may be fraught with challenges, it is also paved with opportunities for growth, discovery, and fulfillment. May your journey continue to be guided by the same passion and determination that have always propelled you forward. To the unsung musicians who have found alternative paths, this dedication is for you. Your courage and perseverance inspire us all. iii Acknowledgments Thank you to my friends and family for their unwavering support, understanding, and encouragement throughout my academic journey. Their love, patience, and belief in me have been a great source of strength. I offer my heartfelt thanks to those who took the time and energy to be a part of this story, their willingness to contribute their experiences and insights have been invaluable. Their stories have been offered a voice through this piece. I extend my deepest appreciation to my advisors: Peggy Bustamante for their expertise in coding and interactive web development, Stacy Scholder for their insights in television producing and package reporting, and Christina Bellantoni for their guidance during the in-depth reporting process as I worked on this piece throughout my final year at USC Annenberg. Their collective support, feedback, and mentorship have been indispensable throughout my time at Annenberg on a plethora of projects, investigations, and endeavors. I couldn’t be more grateful to have studied with and learned from them. Thank you all for being part of this journey and for helping me accomplish this milestone in my academic and professional life. iv Table of Contents Dedication....................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments..........................................................................................................................iii List of Figures................................................................................................................................. v Link to Multimedia Thesis............................................................................................................. vi Abstract......................................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1: Text Story...................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Video Transcript............................................................................................................ 9 Chapter 3: Other Figures............................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 4: Website Code .............................................................................................................. 15 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 47 v List of Figures Figure 1 Living room with keyboard and plants (Photo: Michael Gribbon).................................. 1 Figure 2 Jacob Amalraj, Luca Moretti and Jason Amalraj in Chicago (Photo: Jason Amalraj) ..... 1 Figure 3 Vintage record player (Photo: Michael Gribbon)............................................................. 2 Figure 4 (YouTube Video) Pebblehead with djcobbsalad - KXSC Radio ...................................... 3 Figure 5 Microphone on stand (Photo: Jacob Amalraj).................................................................. 3 Figure 6 (Interactive Element) Digital production tools (Photo: Michael Gribbon) ...................... 4 Figure 7 Professor Rick Schmunk (Photo: USC Thornton)............................................................ 4 Figure 8 Jacob playing clarinet at Carnegie Hall, New York City (Photo: Amalraj family) .......... 5 Figure 9 Living room with keyboard and plants (Photo: Michael Gribbon)................................ 11 Figure 10 The dublab radio station, next door to Jacob's house (Photo: Michael Gribbon)......... 11 Figure 11 Records displayed on wall above record player (Photo Michael Gribbon).................. 11 Figure 12 Microphone on stand with sound dampening board (Photo: Michael Gribbon).......... 12 Figure 13 Records displayed on wall above bay window (Photo: Michael Gribbon).................. 12 Figure 14 Jason playing guitar (Photo: Amalraj family) .............................................................. 12 Figure 15 Jacob recording on mic at home in New Jersey (Photo: Jason Amalraj) ..................... 13 Figure 16 Luca Moretti using midi keyboard (Photo: Jason Amalraj) ......................................... 13 Figure 17 Jacob and Sam Avalos at recording studio (Photo: Jason Amalraj) ............................. 13 Figure 18 Andrej Obradovic playing guitar (Photo: Jacob Amalraj)............................................ 14 vi Link to Multimedia Thesis https://annenberginteractives.com/thesis/michael-gribbon/ vii Abstract This work of multimedia journalism seeks to highlight the often-overlooked journey of musicians who face financial constraints and the daunting reality of slim prospects in the industry. Despite their profound love for music, many talented individuals find themselves unable to pursue their passion as a full-time career. Instead, they navigate alternative paths, bringing their creativity and dedication to diverse fields. Through interviews and personal narratives, this piece commends these unsung musicians for their resilience and celebrates their contributions beyond the realm of music. This piece serves as a tribute to their unwavering spirit and highlights the profound impact of pursuing one's passion, even in the face of adversity. 1 Chapter 1: Text Story The Southern California sun shines in through the bay windows of a large yellow house just off USC’s campus. Nestled between a fraternity and LADWP distribution station-turned-radio studio, the house is often abuzz with music from events, parties and small get-togethers, inside and out. The odd mix of plants, microphones, propped-up skateboards and a digital keyboard cast shadows that dance across the old wooden floor. The front door opens with a creak as Jacob Amalraj walks in, drops his bag on the floor and throws his shoes in the corner. His brother, Jason, is asleep on the couch as if he owns the place. This might not be his house, he lives in an apartment with his girlfriend in Pomona, but he likes spending time here. It’s the musical home of their friend Figure 2 Jacob Amalraj, Luca More5 and Jason Amalraj in Chicago (Photo: Jason Amalraj) Figure 1 Living room with keyboard and plants (Photo: Michael Gribbon) 2 group – a group of academics, studying topics such as business and accounting by day, turned musicians by night. Jacob has lived in this house for a year and a half now while pursuing a degree in Business Administration at USC. His friends often joke that he was able to find a home, while they’re stuck with their college apartments. That is the vibe of this place. Jason didn’t want to put a specific label on the music they create, opting instead to note that it references and intermingles with lots of genres. “The weird thing is we all learned the fundamentals of music in a jazz space, and jazz is just kind of a fundamental building block of a lot of modern-day music,” Jason said. “It's the building blocks for soul, R&B, hip hop, blues, you know? So, I think, where that language has taken us in the way that we envision melody right now is that it's like the best of mainstream music.” An old record player sits in the corner softly playing jazz. Jacob, Jason and their friends gather here often, spending late nights studying at the dining room table, chatting about their days, and sometimes just listening to music. “I’m so grateful for them,” Jacob said, sitting on his couch in between two of his closest friends at USC, Andrej Obradovic and Sam Avalos. Jacob is the most recent of the group to start producing his own music and has been feeling his way through the process with their guidance. “I feel like if I never met some of them, I wouldn’t have challenged myself. They made it seem like, to me, that anyone can do this and it’s so rewarding.” Obradovic, a music industry major at USC’s Thornton School of Music, classifies himself more on the business side than as a creative. Jacob was quick to note that Obradovic is an artist and DJ too. “I figured it'd be a practical in-between of something a little bit more secure, and then keeping those creative aspects of life,” Obradovic said. “It's not technically an artist’s perspective. It's more like the business administrative side.” Around the group, the room is lined with records, each carefully selected from thrift shops and flea markets, whatever they can get their hands on for cheap, and placed attentively along the fringes of the room's crown molding. Everything from vintage jazz recordings, classical symphonies, country music, and even “Midnights” by Taylor Swift. Jacob’s favorite is “New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)” by Erykah Badu, which he got for only $2 somewhere back in New Jersey. He can’t remember where exactly. Figure 3 Vintage record player (Photo: Michael Gribbon) 3 Once every week, Jacob and his friends walk over to KXSC for his radio show, “pebblehead with djcobbsalad.” KXSC1 is USC’s student-run radio station which, since 1946, has aired radio shows with music curated by Trojans. While KXSC has transitioned mostly to playing music digitally, Jacob still likes to bring his own records occasionally to add some nostalgia to the music he plays. YouTube: Pebblehead with djcobbsalad - KXSC Radio2 Figure 4 (YouTube Video) Pebblehead with djcobbsalad - KXSC Radio Back at his house, equal time is given to listening to music as to creating it. Even while playing a game on Jacob’s Nintendo Switch or watching a football game on TV, something is always playing in the background. Despite their true comfort here, the group does so much more than lounge around the house. They're often here with a purpose: creation – even if it takes them a few tries to bring an idea to life. “Sometimes it’s not something you can just turn on and just do right when you want to,” Jacob said. “You have to warm yourself up, or you need to be in that state of mind initially. So, it's definitely nice when you set a period of time, and you're like, ‘I'm gonna make something.’” In the modern music world, lots of production has turned digital, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down studios and forced musicians to create from home. This has turned laptops and other at-home systems into creative hubs. Remarkably, these devices have become powerful tools, equipped with software and recording equipment that could simulate and synthesize the sounds of entire orchestras. The group has recently begun learning Ableton, one of the most popular Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) among at-home and professional music creators. According to Ableton3 , the DAW is “a favorite among producers of hip-hop and electronic music for its unique approach to loop-based composition.” The group has experience with other DAW’s and music production software as well, including FL Studio, Logic, Melodyne and RX10, all of which they utilize in their creative process. 1 https://kxsc.org 2 https://youtu.be/GFBbZtQx85I?si=JthvbRZ0bTM188B9 3 https://www.ableton.com/en/live/what-is-live/ Figure 5 Microphone on stand (Photo: Jacob Amalraj) 4 They also use tools such as virtual synthesizers, MIDI controllers, and pitch modulators to experiment and innovate in ways they never thought they would ever be able to outside of a fullblown recording studio. Their music resonates with a fusion of electronic pulses, intricate rhythms, and layered textures, creating a dynamic landscape of sound that encapsulates the DIY spirit of at-home creation. While it doesn’t shake the walls or blow out windows, you can feel the vibrations and through them, the passion that went into creating it. “There were probably four- or five-hundred professional studios somewhere in Los Angeles in 1985,” said USC Thornton School of Music professor Rick Schmunk, reflecting on advancements in technology that have changed the music production industry. “Today you can almost count them on one hand.” Schmunk, who is the creator of Thornton’s music production program and chair of the music technology program, said that independent music collaboration has really reached a new level since the pandemic, in turn with advances in music and audio technology. “You know, just being a musician is not enough, you're going to have to be able to mock stuff up at home,” Schmunk said. “It's a given that that's a skill that a modern musician needs. You can't just be a good player or a good singer, or a good Figure 6 (InteracTve Element) Digital producTon tools (Photo: Michael Gribbon) Figure 7 Professor Rick Schmunk (Photo: USC Thornton) 5 songwriter. Everybody's got to be a bit of a producer. And you've got to learn how to mix, because any time you're showing your music to anybody, they're going to expect it to sound like a professional mix.” Schmunk also noted the prevalence of free training and tutorials on online platforms such as YouTube and LinkedIn Learning, giving up-and-coming music creators and producers betterthan-ever access to equipment and software. For Obradovic, this access to technology and learning has caused him to question how he wants to pursue his passion. “It's something I struggle with every day still,” Obradovic said. “Do I actually want to be in the music industry? Or do I want to be the focus of the music industry?” “I’m kind of stepping into my USC shoes a little bit more and trying to get out there,” Obradovic continued. “With clubs and radio and schoolwork and having a girlfriend here, it’s all kind of hard to balance. But there are those redeeming moments where you do make something that you’re actually proud of and it’s like. OK” The group has discovered a newfound independence through such software, crafting their compositions from the comfort of their homes during the pandemic, and now from their apartments across the country while at school. The groups’ musical journeys began long before they even thought about USC. Jacob and Jason grew up more than 2,500 miles away from USC, in Newark, New Jersey. At the urging of their father, a big “music head” according to Jacob, they played in their schools’ bands and orchestras, never really diving deep into music outside of the classroom. Figure 8 Jacob playing clarinet at Carnegie Hall, New York City (Photo: Amalraj family) 6 Jason got started with piano and strings, learning violin and viola before moving to band to learn trumpet and trombone. “At a certain point, I was playing about five real instruments,” Jason noted. “I hated it. I didn't like playing real instruments. There was an appeal to me behind it originally that kind of got taken out by the aspect of having a designated practice time.” Jason and Jacob played at Carnegie Hall growing up, “but it just sucked the fun out of music,” Jason continued. “So, I kind of dismissed it as a career path until I went to school and started waking up.” Jacob, a year younger than Jason, had gone straight to his middle school band, picking up clarinet first then saxophone. Listening to jazz growing up, the rhythmic melodies with improvised style drew Jacob to the genre. Obradovic was first shown aspects of music producing by a friend in high school. The friend showed him FL Studio, another DAW software that he was using to make songs for himself. “He just inspired this love for creation, and after that, I kind of just took off,” he said. As they lounge around the living room of Jacob’s house, Avalos told his musical story. “My parents, growing up, always played different types of music,” Avalos reflected while talking about how he originally didn’t entertain the idea of being a musician. “My parents put me and my brother in piano lessons, like at an early age, but I didn’t stick with it. I kind of forgot about the creation of music for a longtime.” Like Obradovic, Avalos was also told about music creation by high school friends. “I was honestly just looking for a hobby and I was told by a friend about music production and this software used on his computer,” he said. “I downloaded it too, and then, I don’t know, I have been like obsessed since that.” Although it may seem their lives focus on music, these young men are all still students. Jason is working on his professional accounting certification at Lehigh University and Avalos is interning at a talent management company while working on his degree in communications at USC Annenberg. Luca Moretti, Jacob and Jason’s friend from high school, who now lives in Chicago, frequently Zooms into the creative sessions the group has here at Jacob’s home in L.A. Moretti, whose walls are lined with acoustic dampening boards, considers himself a musician first, even though he graduated in December from NYU with a degree in statistics and works as a data analyst for Cook County in Illinois. “I learned jazz the way that you're supposed to kinda study that music, because no academia adequately teaches any of this shit,” Moretti said. “At the end of the day, it takes a personal drive and a personal curiosity to really sit down and listen to the music and study what are the elements that make it like that.” 7 In today's challenging economic landscape, many musicians like these friends are navigating a demanding balancing act, juggling their passion for music with the necessity of pursuing alternate majors and careers to make ends meet. “I don't really care if I'm working a job that takes a lot of my time or not. It's just a matter of if I'm satisfied with myself and what I'm doing,” Jacob said. “I want to be making music and I feel like it's gonna be a part of my life, whether it's as a living or not. I just want to be happy.” With the traditional pathways of the music industry often proving financially precarious, artists like those in the group are increasingly pursuing degrees and professions that offer more stable financial prospects. This dual pursuit reflects the reality that, for most, music alone rarely generates enough income to cover the bills. According to ZipRecruiter4, the average salary across the music industry in Los Angeles is just over $56,000. By comparison, the average salary of an entry-level person graduating from business school in California5 is more than $80,000. “My only desire to get a business degree was to be taken seriously,” Jason said. “I wanted to get a financial and accounting degree so that I could have a degree of literacy. You know, in the music industry, money slips through the cracks, like constantly. Being financially literate and knowledgeable of what was going on in the books was a really big thing.” Yet the resilience of musicians shines through as they find ways to harmonize their creative aspirations with the practical demands of the modern world. Helped by the “at home” movement of digital music creation, with the world at their fingertips, musicians can record, produce, and share their work from just their laptops. This newfound independence has not only streamlined the music-making process, but also has allowed artists to explore uncharted territories in sound, blending genres and experimenting without the constraints of costly studio time. “I think that's something I learned from you guys,” Jacob said, gesturing to Avalos and Obradovic sitting on his couch watching him put a new vinyl on the record player. “When I was younger, I was listening to just the words and then I started listening to the sounds in the field. I would never have listened to half the people you guys showed me if you didn't teach me how to feel a song.” While financial pressures persist, the digital revolution has given musicians the tools to thrive creatively in their own space, physically and virtually. 4 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Music-Industry-Salary-in-Los-Angeles,CA 5 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Entry-Level-Business-Degree-Salary--in-California#Yearly 8 Music, it seems, transcends physical boundaries, with digital tools fostering a creative renaissance in an age of isolation. “It's like all the kids that we work with now have become our closest friends,” Jason said. “It's just been a conduit to keep this group of people together. Music is a people game. You are really going to work with who you really like, you know, for no cost and for no reason.” 9 Chapter 2: Video Transcript Archival Audio from past radio broadcasts: 00;00;00;02 - 00;00;01;24 Andrej Obradovic: What should we get started with? 00;00;01;24 - 00;00;06;26 Jacob Amalraj: Dude. I think we start with, like, a lot of really abrasive and fun music and get our energy up. 00;00;06;26 - 00;00;08;20 Andrej: Why don’t we just go for a little roller coaster? 00;00;08;26 - 00;00;10;29 Jacob: Yeah, sure. Let's do it. Voiceover: 00;00;19;09 - 00;00;24;18 This is Jacob's fourth year hosting a radio show with KXSC, USC’s student radio station. Archival Audio: 00;00;24;18 - 00;00;28;20 Jacob: Yo, what's up? It’s Jacob. Voiceover: 00;00;28;22 - 00;00;34;11 Jacob plays a variety of music from electronic to hip-hop, rock, pop and even more. Video of Jacob hosting 00;00;40;25 - 00;00;43;19 Just whatever is happening really. Interview with Jacob: 00;00;43;19 - 00;00;48;09 I joined radio just because I wanted somewhere to like, just an organization with people who like music. Voiceover: 00;00;48;09 - 00;00;54;19 He often welcomes his friends to come host with him, letting them pick songs and talk about what life is like as student musicians. 00;00;54;21 - 00;00;59;26 Sam and Andrej are two of Jacob's closest friends at USC, and they've come to almost every show this year. 10 Interview with Sam Avalos 00;00;59;26 - 00;01;06;18 Sam: It's been cool to pull up whenever Jacob has his show and just like, hang out with my friends and listen to music. This is what we do, like on a regular basis. Interview with Andrej 00;01;06;18 - 00;01;16;04 Andrej: I mean, I'm really just excited to do more of this, coming to Jacob’s show has kinda been a way of tasting that and knowing that, as an intern, it will be like worth it. Voiceover: 00;01;16;04 - 00;01;29;00 Andrej has been interning with another KXSC radio host and will soon take up the mantle with his own show. But he is most thankful for his time on Jacob's show learning the ropes and getting to see that it’s all worth it to be able to share in the love of music. Archival Audio: 00;01;29;02 - 00;01;34;16 Jacob: I'm here with some of my friends. 00;01;34;19 - 00;01;37;21 Jacob: So you guys are just imaginary, are you in my head? 00;01;37;24 - 00;01;39;19 Andrej: What the vibe? 00;01;39;19 - 00;01;50;22 Jacob: Oh, the vibe today is just whatever we want to listen to. That's what you're going to hear. Yeah. We're going to have a good show tonight. We're going to get amped on this Friday, Friday night. 00;01;51;16 - 00;01;52;13 Sam: Are you live? 00;01;52;13 - 00;01;53;02 Jacob: I guess so.6 6 Archival audio courtesy of KXSC, USC’s independent student run radio station. 11 Chapter 3: Other Figures Figure 9 Living room with keyboard and plants (Photo: Michael Gribbon) Figure 10 The dublab radio staTon, next door to Jacob's house (Photo: Michael Gribbon) Figure 11 Records displayed on wall above record player (Photo Michael Gribbon) 12 Figure 12 Microphone on stand with sound dampening board (Photo: Michael Gribbon) Figure 13 Records displayed on wall above bay window (Photo: Michael Gribbon) Figure 14 Jason playing guitar (Photo: Amalraj family) 13 Figure 15 Jacob recording on mic at home in New Jersey (Photo: Jason Amalraj) Figure 16 Luca More5 using midi keyboard (Photo: Jason Amalraj) Figure 17 Jacob and Sam Avalos at recording studio (Photo: Jason Amalraj) 14 Figure 18 Andrej Obradovic playing guitar (Photo: Jacob Amalraj) 15 Chapter 4: Website Code index.html: Making the most of at-home music Making the most of at-home music Some student music careers are taking off outside the classroom By Michael Gribbon 16 The Southern California sun shines in through the bay windows of a large yellow house just off USC’s campus. Nestled between a fraternity and LADWP distribution station-turned-radio studio, the house is often abuzz with music from events, parties and small get-togethers, inside and out. Jacob Amalraj, Luca Moretti and Jason Amalraj in Chicago (Photo: Jason Amalraj) The odd mix of plants, microphones, propped-up skateboards and a digital keyboard cast shadows that dance across the old wooden floor. The front door opens with a creak as Jacob Amalraj walks in, drops his bag on the floor and throws his shoes in the corner. His brother, Jason, is asleep on the couch as if he owns the place. This might not be his house, he lives in an apartment with his girlfriend in Pomona, but he likes spending time here. It’s the musical home of their friend group – a group of academics, studying topics such as business and accounting by day, turned musicians by night. Jacob has lived in this house for a year and a half now while pursuing a degree in Business Administration at USC. His friends often joke that he was able to find a home, while they’re stuck with their college apartments. That is the vibe of this place. Jason didn’t want to put a specific label on the music they create, opting instead to note that it references and intermingles with lots of genres. “The weird thing is we all learned the fundamentals of music in a jazz space, and jazz is just kind of a fundamental building block of a lot of modern day music,” Jason said. “It's the building blocks for soul, R&B, hip hop, blues, you know? So I think, where that language has taken us in the way that we envision melody right now is it's like the best of mainstream music.” Vintage record player (Photo: Michael Gribbon) 17 An old record player sits in the corner softly playing jazz. Jacob, Jason and their friends gather here often, spending late nights studying at the dining room table, chatting about their days, and sometimes just listening to music. “I’m so grateful for them,” Jacob said, sitting on his couch in between two of his closest friends at USC, Andrej Obradovic and Sam Avalos. Jacob is the most recent of the group to start producing his own music and has been feeling his way through the process with their guidance. “I feel like if I never met some of them, I wouldn’t have challenged myself. They made it seem like, to me, that anyone can do this and it’s so rewarding." Obradovic, a music industry major at USC’s Thornton School of Music, classifies himself more on the business side than as a creative. Jacob was quick to note that Obradovic is an artist and DJ too. “I figured it'd be a practical in-between of something a little bit more secure, and then keeping those creative aspects of life,” Obradovic said. “It's not technically an artist’s perspective. It's more like the business administrative side.” Around the group, the room is lined with records, each carefully selected from thrift shops and flea markets, whatever they can get their hands on for cheap, and placed attentively along the fringes of the room's crown molding. Everything from vintage jazz recordings, classical symphonies, country music, and even “Midnights” by Taylor Swift. Jacob’s favorite is “New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)” by Erykah Badu, which he got for only $2 somewhere back in New Jersey. He can’t remember where exactly. 1 / 5 Living room with keyboard and plants (Photo: Michael Gribbon) 2 / 5 The dublab radio station, next door to Jacob's house (Photo: Michael Gribbon) 18 3 / 5 Records displayed on wall above record player (Photo Michael Gribbon) 4 / 5 Microphone on stand with sound dampening board (Photo: Michael Gribbon) 5 / 5 Records displayed on wall above bay window (Photo: Michael Gribbon) ❮ ❯ Once every week, Jacob and his friends walk over to KXSC for his radio show, “pebblehead with djcobbsalad.” KXSC is USC’s student-run radio station which, since 1946, has aired radio shows with music curated by Trojans. While KXSC has transitioned mostly to playing music digitally, Jacob still likes to bring his own records occasionally to add some nostalgia to the music he plays. 19 Back at his house, equal time is given to listening to music as to creating it. Even while playing a game on Jacob’s Nintendo Switch or watching a football game on TV, something is always playing in the background. Microphone on stand (Photo: Jacob Amalraj) Despite their true comfort here, the group does so much more than lounge around the house. They're often here with a purpose: creation – even if it takes them a few tries to bring an idea to life. “Sometimes it’s not something you can just turn on and just do right when you want to,” Jacob said. “You have to warm yourself up, or you need to be in that state of mind initially. So, it's definitely nice when you set a period of time, and you're like, ‘I'm gonna make something.’” In the modern music world, lots of production has turned digital, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down studios and forced musicians to create from home. This has turned laptops and other athome systems into creative hubs. Remarkably, these devices have become powerful tools, equipped with software and recording equipment that could simulate and synthesize the sounds of entire orchestras. The group has recently begun learning Ableton, one of the most popular Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) among at-home and professional 20 music creators. According to Ableton, the DAW is “a favorite among producers of hip-hop and electronic music for its unique approach to loop-based composition.” The group has experience with other DAW’s and music production software as well, including Logic, Melodyne and RX10, all of which they utilize in their creative process. Click on the equipment to learn more! They also use tools such as virtual synthesizers, MIDI controllers, and pitch modulators to experiment and innovate in ways they never thought they would ever be able to outside of a full-blown recording studio. Their music resonates with a fusion of electronic pulses, intricate rhythms, and layered textures, creating a dynamic landscape of sound that encapsulates the DIY spirit of at-home creation. While it doesn’t shake the walls or blow out windows, you can 21 feel the vibrations and through them, the passion that went into creating it. Professor Rick Schmunk (Photo: USC Thornton) “There were probably four- or five-hundred professional studios somewhere in Los Angeles in 1985,” said USC Thornton School of Music professor Rick Schmunk, reflecting on advancements in technology that have changed the music production industry. “Today you can almost count them on one hand.” Schmunk, who is the creator of Thornton’s music production program and chair of the music technology program, said that independent music collaboration has really reached a new level since the pandemic, in turn with advances in music and audio technology. “You know, just being a musician is not enough, you're going to have to be able to mock stuff up at home,” Schmunk said. “It's a given that that's a skill that a modern musician needs. You can't just be a good player or a good singer, or a good songwriter. Everybody's got to be a bit of a producer. And you've got to learn how to mix, because any time you're showing your music to anybody, they're going to expect it to sound like a professional mix.” Schmunk also noted the prevalence of free training and tutorials on online platforms such as YouTube and LinkedIn Learning, giving upand-coming music creators and producers better-than-ever access to equipment and software. For Obradovic, this access to technology and learning has caused him to question how he wants to pursue his passion. “It's something I struggle with every day still,” Obradovic said. “Do I actually want to be in the music industry? Or do I want to be the focus of the music industry?” “I’m kind of stepping into my USC shoes a little bit more and trying to get out there,” Obradovic continued. “With clubs and radio and schoolwork and having a girlfriend here, it’s all kind of hard to balance. But there are those redeeming moments where you do make something that you’re actually proud of and it’s like. OK” The group has discovered a newfound independence through such software, crafting their compositions from the comfort of their homes during the pandemic, and now from their apartments across the country while at school. The groups' musical journey began long before they even thought about USC. 22 1 / 6 Jacob playing clarinet at Carnegie Hall (Photo: Amalraj family) 2 / 6 Jason playing guitar (Photo: Amalraj family) 3 / 6 Jacob recording on mic at home in New Jersey (Photo: Jason Amalraj) 4 / 6 Luca Moretti using midi keyboard (Photo: Jason Amalraj) 5 / 6 Jacob and Sam Avalos at recording studio (Photo: Jason Amalraj) 6 / 6 Andrej Obradovic playing guitar (Photo: Jacob Amalraj) ❮ ❯ 23 Jacob and Jason grew up more than 2,500 miles away from USC, in Newark, New Jersey. At the urging of their father, a big “music head” according to Jacob, they played in their schools’ bands and orchestras, never really diving deep into music outside of the classroom. Jason got started with piano and strings, learning violin and viola before moving to band to learn trumpet and trombone. “At a certain point, I was playing about five real instruments,” Jason noted. “I hated it. I didn't like playing real instruments. There was an appeal to me behind it originally that kind of got taken out by the aspect of having a designated practice time.” Jason and Jacob played at Carnegie Hall growing up, “but it just sucked the fun out of music,” Jason continued. “So, I kind of dismissed it as a career path until I went to school and started waking up.” Jacob, a year younger than Jason, had gone straight to his middle school band, picking up clarinet first then saxophone. Listening to jazz growing up, the rhythmic melodies with improvised style drew Jacob to the genre. “He just inspired this love for creation, and after that, I kind of just took off.” — Andrej Obradovic Obradovic was first shown aspects of music producing by a friend in high school. The friend showed him FL Studio, another DAW software that he was using to make songs for himself. “He just inspired this love for creation, and after that, I kind of just took off,” he said. As they lounge around the living room of Jacob’s house, Avalos told his musical story. “My parents, growing up, always played different types of music,” Avalos reflected while talking about how he originally didn’t entertain the idea of being a musician. “My parents put me and my brother in piano lessons, like at an early age, but I didn’t stick with it. I kind of forgot about the creation of music for a longtime.” Like Obradovic, Avalos was also told about music creation by high school friends. “I was honestly just looking for a hobby and I was told by a friend about music production and this software used on his computer,” he said. “I downloaded it too, and then, I don’t know, I have been like obsessed since that.” Although it may seem their lives focus on music, these young men are all still students. Jason is working on his professional accounting certification at Lehigh University and Avalos is interning at a talent management company while working on his degree in communications at USC Annenberg. 24 Luca Moretti, Jacob and Jason’s friend from high school, who now lives in Chicago, frequently Zooms into the creative sessions the group has here at Jacob’s home in L.A. Moretti, whose walls are lined with acoustic dampening boards, considers himself a musician first, even though he graduated in December from NYU with a degree in statistics and works as a data analyst for Cook County in Illinois. “I learned jazz the way that you're supposed to kinda study that music, because no academia adequately teaches any of this shit,” Moretti said. “At the end of the day, it takes a personal drive and a personal curiosity to really sit down and listen to the music and study what are the elements that make it like that.” In today's challenging economic landscape, many musicians like these friends are navigating a demanding balancing act, juggling their passion for music with the necessity of pursuing alternate majors and careers to make ends meet. “I don't really care if I'm working a job that takes a lot of my time or not. It's just a matter of if I'm satisfied with myself and what I'm doing,” Jacob said. “I want to be making music and I feel like it's gonna be a part of my life, whether it's as a living or not. I just want to be happy.” “My only desire to get a business degree was to be taken seriously.” — Jason Amalraj With the traditional pathways of the music industry often proving financially precarious, artists like those in the group are increasingly pursuing degrees and professions that offer more stable financial prospects. This dual pursuit reflects the reality that, for most, music alone rarely generates enough income to cover the bills. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary across the music industry in Los Angeles is just over $56,000. By comparison, the average salary of an entry-level person graduating from business school in California is more than $80,000. “My only desire to get a business degree was to be taken seriously,” Jason said. “I wanted to get a financial and accounting degree so that I could have a degree of literacy. You know, in the music industry, money slips through the cracks, like constantly. Being financially literate and knowledgeable of what was going on in the books was a really big thing.” Yet the resilience of musicians shines through as they find ways to harmonize their creative aspirations with the practical demands of the modern world. Helped by the “at home” movement of digital music 25 creation, with the world at their fingertips, musicians can record, produce, and share their work from just their laptops. This newfound independence has not only streamlined the musicmaking process, but also has allowed artists to explore uncharted territories in sound, blending genres and experimenting without the constraints of costly studio time. “I think that's something I learned from you guys,” Jacob said, gesturing to Avalos and Obradovic sitting on his couch watching him put a new vinyl on the record player. “When I was younger, I was listening to just the words and then I started listening to the sounds in the field. I would never have listened to half the people you guys showed me if you didn't teach me how to feel a song.” While financial pressures persist, the digital revolution has given musicians the tools to thrive creatively in their own space, physically and virtually. Music, it seems, transcends physical boundaries, with digital tools fostering a creative renaissance in an age of isolation. “It's like all the kids that we work with now have become our closest friends,” Jason said. “It's just been a conduit to keep this group of people together. Music is a people game. You are really going to work with who you really like, you know, for no cost and for no reason.” Record photos: Michael Gribbon ©2024 Michael Gribbon Click to close 26 styles.css /* styles.css */ /*@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lato&family=Montserrat&fa mily=Open+Sans&family=Roboto&display=swap'); */ * { box-sizing: border-box; } img, video { width: 100%; display: block; } audio { display: block; } /*link style*/ a { text-decoration: none; color: darkred; } a:visited { color: gray; } a:hover, a:active { color: darkgray; } body, html { font-family: 'montserat', sans-serif; } h1, h2, h3, .pullquote { font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; } header { width: 100%; position: sticky; 27 top: 0; z-index: -1; background-color: black; /*max-height: 600px;*/ } header img { /* this opacity makes the header image dark so you can read the headline text more easily. remove the opacity if you do not have your headline on top of the image.*/ opacity: 0.6; box-shadow: inset 0 0 100px black; 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margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; display: none; /* remove this line if you want the pullquotes to display on mobile*/ } .left, .right { margin: 0px; padding: 10px; } .sidepic { width: 100%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; } .popup { margin-bottom: 15px; } .popup .sidecap { display: none; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 640px) { .title1 { top: 1%; } .title1 h1 { font-size: 3em; } .title1 h2 { display: none; } .title1 h3 { font-size: 0.9em; } 39 .title2 h1 { font-size: 2em; } .title2 h2 { font-size: 1.3em; } .title2 h3 { font-size: 1em; } .maintext { font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: left; margin: 0px 15px; } .voxgrid { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; } .person audio { background-color: black; } .modal { width: 97%; margin: 10% auto; } } data/records.json: var records = [{"filename":"record_1","number":1}, {"filename":"record_2","number":2}, {"filename":"record_3","number":3}, {"filename":"record_4","number":4}, {"filename":"record_5","number":5}, {"filename":"record_6","number":6}, {"filename":"record_7","number":7}, {"filename":"record_8","number":8}, {"filename":"record_9","number":9}, {"filename":"record_10","number":10}, {"filename":"record_11","number":11}, {"filename":"record_12","number":12}, {"filename":"record_13","number":13}, {"filename":"record_14","number":14}, {"filename":"record_15","number":15}, {"filename":"record_16","number":16}, {"filename":"record_17","number":17}, {"filename":"record_18","number":18}, {"filename":"record_19","number":19}, {"filename":"record_20","number":20}, {"filename":"record_21","number":21}, 40 {"filename":"record_22","number":22}, {"filename":"record_23","number":23}, {"filename":"record_24","number":24}, {"filename":"record_25","number":25}, {"filename":"record_26","number":26}, {"filename":"record_27","number":27}, {"filename":"record_28","number":28}, {"filename":"record_29","number":29}, {"filename":"record_30","number":30}, {"filename":"record_31","number":31}, {"filename":"record_32","number":32}, {"filename":"record_33","number":33}, {"filename":"record_34","number":34}, {"filename":"record_35","number":35}, {"filename":"record_36","number":36}, {"filename":"record_37","number":37}, {"filename":"record_38","number":38}, {"filename":"record_39","number":39}, {"filename":"record_40","number":40}, {"filename":"record_41","number":41}, {"filename":"record_42","number":42}, {"filename":"record_43","number":43}, {"filename":"record_44","number":44}, {"filename":"record_45","number":45}, {"filename":"record_46","number":46}, {"filename":"record_47","number":47}] script.js: /* script.js */ $(document).ready(function(){ // begin document.ready block $(".gridpic").hover(function(){ $('.photocaption', this).fadeToggle(); }); $('.popup').click(function(){ $('.overlay').fadeIn(); $('.body, html').css({'overflow': 'hidden'}); }); $('.closer').click(function(){ $('.overlay').hide(); $('.body, html').css({'overflow': 'auto'}); }); var len = records.length for (var i = 0; i<24; i++) { $('.recordsleft').append(` 41 `); } var len = records.length for (var i = 23; i<len; i++) { $('.recordsright').append(` `); } $('.daw').click(function(){ $('.interactiveoverlay').show(); $('.overlaycontent').html(` Computer with Digital Audio Workstation Uses: -Capture live audio and edit recordings -Arrange and edit MIDI data in compositions -Temp and pitch adjustments -Balance, mix and apply effects to enhance audio quality `); $(document.body).css('overflow','hidden'); }); $('.keyboard').click(function(){ $('.interactiveoverlay').show(); $('.overlaycontent').html(` MIDI Keyboard Uses: -Integrate with DAW software -Control its sounds as well as the sounds of other devices -Record, edit and arrange information within the DAW -Synthesize any instrument's sound 42 `); $(document.body).css('overflow','hidden'); }); $('.microphone').click(function(){ $('.interactiveoverlay').show(); $('.overlaycontent').html(` Microphone and Isolation Shield Uses: -Record live audio -Filter unwanted noises, echos and ambient sound `); $(document.body).css('overflow','hidden'); }); $('.recordplayer').click(function(){ $('.interactiveoverlay').show(); $('.overlaycontent').html(` Digital record player Uses: -Sample vinyl records for use -Listen to records through computer `); $(document.body).css('overflow','hidden'); }); $('.audiointerface').click(function(){ $('.interactiveoverlay').show(); $('.overlaycontent').html(` Audio interface Uses: -Control audio inputs and outputs -Manage audio levels `); $(document.body).css('overflow','hidden'); 43 }); $('.interactivecloser').click(function(){ $('.interactiveoverlay').hide(); $(document.body).css('overflow','scroll'); }); }); //end document.ready block slideshowscript.js: /* script.js */ // Initialize var slideslen = $('.mySlides').length; //console.log(slideslen); var slideIndex = 0; var timeoutVar; /* interval variable */ showSlides(slideIndex); $(document).ready(function(){ // begin document.ready block var length = $('.mySlides').length; console.log(length); // prev and next actions $('.prev').click(function(){ plusSlides(-1); }); $('.next').click(function(){ plusSlides(1); }); // dots action $('.dot').click(function(){ var i = $(this).index(); //console.log(i); currentSlide(i); }); }); //end document.ready block // Next/previous controls function plusSlides(n) { clearTimeout(timeoutVar); // resets timeout so it doesn't go crazy 44 showSlides(slideIndex += n); } // Thumbnail image controls function currentSlide(n) { clearTimeout(timeoutVar); // resets timeout so it doesn't go crazy showSlides(slideIndex = n); } function autoSlide(){ clearTimeout(timeoutVar); // resets timeout so it doesn't go crazy slideIndex++; showSlides(slideIndex); } function showSlides(n) { // console.log(slideIndex); // to make slideshow loop if (n > slideslen-1) {slideIndex = 0} if (n < 0) {slideIndex = slideslen} $('.mySlides').each(function(i){ $(this).hide(); }); $('.dot').each(function(i){ $(this).removeClass('active'); }); console.log(slideIndex); $('.mySlides').eq(slideIndex).show(); $('.dot').eq(slideIndex).addClass('active'); //put this in if you want it to rotate automatically timeoutVar = setTimeout(autoSlide, 5000); // Change image every 2 seconds } slideshowscript2.js: /* script.js */ // Initialize var slideslen2 = $('.mySlides2').length; //console.log(slideslen); var slideIndex2 = 0; var timeoutVar2; /* interval variable */ showSlides2(slideIndex2); $(document).ready(function(){ // begin document.ready block 45 var length2 = $('.mySlides2').length; console.log(length2); // prev and next actions $('.prev2').click(function(){ plusSlides2(-1); }); $('.next2').click(function(){ plusSlides2(1); }); // dots action $('.dot2').click(function(){ var i = $(this).index(); //console.log(i); currentSlide2(i); }); }); //end document.ready block // Next/previous controls function plusSlides2(n) { clearTimeout(timeoutVar2); // resets timeout so it doesn't go crazy showSlides2(slideIndex2 += n); } // Thumbnail image controls function currentSlide2(n) { clearTimeout(timeoutVar2); // resets timeout so it doesn't go crazy showSlides2(slideIndex2 = n); } function autoSlide2(){ clearTimeout(timeoutVar2); // resets timeout so it doesn't go crazy slideIndex2++; showSlides2(slideIndex2); } function showSlides2(n) { // console.log(slideIndex); // to make slideshow loop if (n > slideslen2-1) {slideIndex2 = 0}; if (n < 0) {slideIndex2 = slideslen2} $('.mySlides2').each(function(i){ $(this).hide(); }); $('.dot2').each(function(i){ $(this).removeClass('active'); }); 46 console.log(slideIndex2); $('.mySlides2').eq(slideIndex2).show(); $('.dot2').eq(slideIndex2).addClass('active'); //put this in if you want it to rotate automatically timeoutVar2 = setTimeout(autoSlide2, 5000); // Change image every 2 seconds } 47 Bibliography “Ableton Live | Ableton.” Accessed December 2, 2023. https://www.ableton.com/en/live/whatis-live/. KXSC Radio. Archival audio courtesy of KXSC. “KXSC Radio,” March 3, 2024. https://kxsc.org. USC Thornton School of Music. “Rick Schmunk,” June 20, 2013. https://music.usc.edu/rickschmunk/. ZipRecruiter. “Entry Level Business Degree Salary in California.” Accessed November 13, 2023. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Entry-Level-Business-Degree-Salary--inCalifornia#Yearly. ZipRecruiter. “Music Industry Salary in Los Angeles, CA.” Accessed November 13, 2023. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Music-Industry-Salary-in-Los-Angeles,CA.

Abstract (if available)

Abstract This work of multimedia journalism seeks to highlight the often-overlooked journey of musicians who face financial constraints and the daunting reality of slim prospects in the industry. Despite their profound love for music, many talented individuals find themselves unable to pursue their passion as a full-time career. Instead, they navigate alternative paths, bringing their creativity and dedication to diverse fields. Through interviews and personal narratives, this piece commends these unsung musicians for their resilience and celebrates their contributions beyond the realm of music. This piece serves as a tribute to their unwavering spirit and highlights the profound impact of pursuing one's passion, even in the face of adversity.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Gribbon, Michael (author)

Core Title Making the most of at-home music: some student music careers are taking off outside the classroom

School Annenberg School for Communication

Degree Master of Arts

Degree Program Specialized Journalism

Degree Conferral Date 2024-05

Publication Date 05/17/2024

Defense Date 05/10/2024

Publisher Los Angeles, California (original), University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag Adversity,career,journalism,Music,musicians,OAI-PMH Harvest

Format theses (aat)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Bustamante, Peggy (committee chair), Bellantoni, Christina (committee member), Scholder, Stacy (committee member)

Creator Email gribbon@usc.edu,michaelgribbon253@outlook.com

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-oUC113940234

Unique identifier UC113940234

Identifier etd-GribbonMic-12959.pdf (filename)

Legacy Identifier etd-GribbonMic-12959

Document Type Thesis

Format theses (aat)

Rights Gribbon, Michael

Internet Media Type application/pdf

Type texts

Source 20240517-usctheses-batch-1155 (batch), University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright.

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA

Repository Email cisadmin@lib.usc.edu