On Thursday, March 26, students, faculty and community members will gather at the Strom Amphitheater to celebrate the latest Dolphinium Records album release. The record is a collaborative project produced and recorded by 12 students in the Linda Berry Stein College of Arts and Sciences’ Music Technology class. Students worked with instructor Jason Perry to write, produce, and record the album over the last year, a process that taught them a range of skills from the gritty details of mixing and mastering to the broader talents of working in tandem with fellow creatives.
“A lot of the work went into bringing everyone together and making sure each person’s story and perspective come through in the songs. We all come from different backgrounds and experiences, but that’s what makes the album interesting. Everyone has their own voice,” said Ivete Rodrigues, Vice President of Dolphinium Records. “Working with other people can take a song in a direction you never expected, and a lot of times that’s where the best ideas come from.”
“Music has a good way of never being fully finished,” added Dolphinium Records President Sarah McGibeny. “But being able to hold something in my hand that shows all the work my friends and I put into this is incredibly fulfilling.”
Dr. Felicia Day, an alumna of the Davis College of Business and Technology, saw the event announcement by chance and immediately got involved. Dr. Day is the founder and owner of NDAMIX (pronounced “in-da-mix"), a sublabel and music distributor that works almost exclusively with independent artists. Ahead of sponsoring the upcoming album release party, she’s also visited campus to speak to students about her years in the music business.
“Gaining access to industry professionals can be a determining factor in a successful music career,” said Dr. Day. “You don’t have to be Beyoncé. You don’t have to be Taylor Swift. But you can be an artist that’s earning a livable income doing what they love, if you know what to do. And that’s what I hope to help these students learn.”
Classes like Perry’s are a perfect example of how our distinguished faculty lead students through collaborative and experiential projects that make waves on campus and into the community beyond.
“Dolphinium Records reflects what happens when talented students are supported by faculty who are deeply committed to teaching through mentorship and hands-on experience,” said Dr. Christopher Corbo, dean of Linda Berry Stein College of Arts and Sciences. “The students who created this album brought remarkable creativity and dedication to the process, and that energy comes through clearly in the music they produced.”
Join the Jacksonville University community at the Dolphinium Records release party on Thursday, March 26 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Strom Amphitheater for a special night of celebrations, performances, and creativity. Records will be for sale at the release party on Thursday for $15, or available via the Dolphinium Records Instagram for $20. Join us in celebrating our talented students!
