It was crazy out there. We got a mid-afternoon headcount of 19-20k, and people were still entering the gate as the headcount came in. The weather was extremely hot, but it didn’t stop festival goers from enjoying lots of music, food, graffiti artists, a climbing wall, a skateboard ramp, a car show, t-shirt vendors and more. Main stage announcements to stay hydrated and healthy reminded festival goers to have fun and be safe.

A rare and exciting scholarship opportunity was rolled out by independent Hip-Hop label Rhymesayers Entertainment this spring and Soundset festival was a great time for  IPR and RSE to showcase the opportunity.

In partnership with IPR, RSE is now offering a full annually awarded scholarship to the IPR applicant who best demonstrates creative aptitude, community involvement, financial need, and awareness and support of the RSE mission. At IPR we share in the community minded RSE mission, and so it made sense that IPR Admissions Representatives were on hand to answer questions about this prodigious new educational opportunity.

JP rock'n the tent

IPR’s Certified Ableton Live trainer James Patrick (JP) assembled a Slam Academy team of credentialed electronic musicians, programmers, and Ableton Live enthusiasts to offer assistance and tutorials to IPR tent guests curious about the type of audio production training IPR offers and wanting to learn more about the media arts.

Slam Academy crew

JP’s team did a great job of engaging guests and offering them a chance to interact with the latest in electronic music creation and performance technology as each guest could be paired with a team member for individual attention.

The IPR tent featured 9 workstations: 6 with an electronic music focus, 2 with a Pro Tools / audio production focus, and 1 with a digital video focus.

IPR’s Onyx Johnson, A.K.A King Sandman, hosted RSE artists Grieves and Budo, Jake One, and I Self Devine for short interviews throughout the afternoon. RSE artists discussed everything from how they got their start to what they’re working on right now; we even got a chance to see these guys take the stage day of. Special thanks to RSE for working with IPR to make this a possibility.

A little over a week before Soundset, RSE’s Skye Rossi invited IPR to come to Soundset with a small team of teachers and students to record the entire day of Soundset main stage performances. Instructors Jay Fleming and Mike Brown recruited students Justin Smith and Luke Brown for the task resulting in a long commitment for all involved; in the midst of crazy weather extremes Justin and Luke both stuck it out proving themselves worthy assistants with an excellent work ethic.

By roughly 7:00 PM artist Lupe Fiasco was nearly done with his set when the main stage announcement of a tornado warning sent the crowd into a frenzied rush for safety. During the mass exodus a wind and rain storm blew through the area; tornado sirens notwithstanding, there was no real evidence of danger at any time, but festival goers did get wet as they left Canterbury Park.

With the help of IPR volunteers and staff, we were able to pack our van and safely exit the premises within approximately 15-20 minutes. Thankfully, the entire van load of digital video and recording gear made it back to IPR disheveled but in good shape.

Soundset 2012 offered IPR an awesome way to reach the music business, video production, and audio professionals of tomorrow. It also offered us an opportunity to spread the word about the awesome new Rhymesayers Entertainment scholarship available exclusively to IPR applicants.

The following deserve recognition and thanks for their efforts as this was a lot of work, and without all of you IPR could not have taken part in Soundset 2012:

IPR Student Volunteers: Josh Williams, Phillip Moore, Christopher Tianen (Cap), April Wallace, Hannah Aspenson.

Slam Academy team: James Patrick, Isaac Halvorson, Lucas Melchior, AJ Norman, Dylan Howe, Yahn Luke Pikard, Alec Ness, Chester Yourczek, Michael Morrissey, Zach Bleier.

IPR Staff and Faculty: Onyx Johnson, Amanda Kirchner, Tom Frentzos,  Sammy Johnson, Woody Stulberg, Jay Fleming, Mike Brown, Brian Jacoby, Christian Groves (Me), Mike Simonson.

Additional tent gear was  on loan to IPR for the day: Thanks to Paul Heyerdahl of Focusrite / Novation, and Ben Hove of Best Buy.

Josh representing

You can RSVP by emailing Breanna Lewis,breannalewis@ipr.edu, or join the Facebook event page:http://www.facebook.com/events/384157361627194/

If you’re unable to attend, you can help Tyler by donating at this link:http://www.giveforward.com/supporttylersbraininjuryrehab

Grieves & Budo 1:00 PM

Jake One 1:30 PM

P.O.S 2:00 PM

I Self Devine 2:30 PM

The interviews will be short and space in the tent will be tight. So please enjoy them respectfully and give the artists some breathing room.

The IPR tent will host free Audio Production tutorials with James Patrick and his crew: Lucas Melchior (“MKR” of IPR and Slam Academy), AJ Norman and Dylan Howe (World Class Art Thieves – Dubstep and Remix Champions!), Isaac Halvorsonn (IPR songwriter/producer), Yahn Luke Pikard (Glitch Hop Master), Alec Ness (IDM/future beat producer), Chester Yourczek (Composition MFA and “Sex Burger” Lead man, synth programmer and songwriter), Michael Morrissey (Slam Academy software programmer and Max/MSP and Reaktor instrument designer), Zach Bleier (Dance music prodigy).

IPR’s SOUNDSET tent will also have a few surprise extras that we can’t talk about yet. Come see us day of.

SOUNDSET is widely known as one of the nation’s largest Hip Hop festivals and this year’s roster is very impressive.

Rhymesayers Entertainment (RSE), indie hip hop label and organizer of SOUNDSET festival, is a close friend and community partner with IPR, and this year is a groundbreaking year for both of us. We’re announcing RSE’s full-tuition scholarship to IPR, which they plan to award annually each late fall quarter. This prestigious scholarship is granted to the applicant who best demonstrates creative aptitude, community involvement, and an awareness and support of the mission of Rhymesayers Entertainment. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need.

Please visit the IPR tent at SOUNDSET (see the map below) to learn more about this prestigious, community minded scholarship opportunity.

Several of you have been interested in what’s happening with these guys, so Tanya emailed a quick update to communications home base (A.K.A IPR cubicle land) and I wanted to share it with the IPR Newswire.

Here’s what she had to say…

Complicity Studio close up.

The Complicit Story

Complicit is an exploration of modern techno started by local dance floor enthusiasts Tanya and Travis Norman in October 2009.  Built upon a foundation of their shared passion for electronic music and the culture around it, their music is produced and performed by using 2 AKAI APC40’s linked to a single Mac Book Pro.

Travis began as a DJ spinning records and quickly grew a love for the electronic music scene. A regular at late 90’s Minneapolis parties, he performed under his drum & bass moniker, ‘DJ Play’.  In later years he went on to produce instrumental trip hop as ‘Wordclock’ culminating in his first solo album ‘No one from now on’.  On the side he worked at various music stores, obtaining as much knowledge (and gear) as possible.  He graduated Valedictorian in 2008 from IPR with an emphasis in audio post production.  Currently, he runs his own social web development and design business, ReactionNow, which focuses on helping independent musicians make the most of the new music economy.

Tanya started playing piano at the age of 5 and flute at the age of 10, and is currently working on incorporating this aspect into her live performances.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music with a Business emphasis in 1998 and also obtained a diploma in Recording Engineering.  Initially working as a freelance studio engineer and music retail manager, Tanya then obtained a position in Admissions with IPR in the Fall of 2002. After 9 years of service with IPR, she has since resigned to focus on Complicit full time.

This is where the story gets interesting.

Complicit Studio, another angle.

To focus on their music project full time, they both wanted it done the right way- with no distractions.  They own a condo in Minneapolis, but spend their time in a former photography studio, now their recording studio, which is located in a rural part of Wisconsin. Their studio space is fully equipped with a bedroom, kitchen, living room, control room and a machine room.  In addition, they also have a guest house for visiting artists seeking a production get-away.  Having the studio away from the hustle and bustle of the city allows them to be creative and crank the music loud.

To add some more color to this story, Complicit travels old school style in a high-top conversion tour van to all of their performances.  They have a passion for travel and being in control of their adventures.

The duo released their debut EP, romantec, and a full length LP, after hours, independently through their own website, complicitmusic.com.  In December of 2011, JQM Recordings (Just Quality Music) released Edge of the Earth, a 3 track EP available exclusively at Beatport.com. Currently Complicit is working with multiple record labels on remix projects. They are looking forward to some international performances this year in Cozumel, Mexico and Vancouver, Canada.

You can learn more about Complicit by visiting website or their fan page on Facebook or Resident Advisor.  They make interesting use of their Twitter feed by aggregating articles, interviews and production tips related to electronic music and tweeting the most interesting each day.  Follow them at twitter.com/complicitmusic.

Promo Video

Complicit ::Promo 01::Winter 2012.mov

Tyler is an artist, a musician and a songwriter whose brain injury causes double vision, migraine headaches, and severe dizziness whenever he receives too much audio and visual stimulation. Tyler is hoping to raise money for brain injury rehabilitation so he can get back to work, and back to pursuing his love of music.

To learn more, please take the time to check out the links and watch the video below.

Along with Tyler and his family, IPR thanks you in advance for anything you can do to help.

Tyler’s Give Forward page allows for donations as little as $1: http://www.giveforward.com/supporttylersbraininjuryrehab

Here’s the Tyler’s support Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SupportTylerMcAninch

A benefit show has booked  at the Beat coffee house on June 3^rd!  Here is the Facebook event page:

http://www.facebook.com/events/384157361627194/

Catch audio engineering Instructor Justin DeLeon’s band the Swallows as the opening act for Portland based Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside on Wednesday May 23^rd at First Avenue’s the 7th St. Entry.  Learn more about the Swallows here.

Justin DeLeon plays drums for Minneapolis based the Swallows and teaches both Pro Tools Certification and Audio Engineering for IPR, The Institute of Production Recording. Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside are a national indie act with Partisan Records, based in Portland, OR. Tickets available here.

At NAB, IPR’s Director of Career services, Norbert Kreuzer had the opportunity to organize a PAC (Program Advisory Council) meeting, network with new potential graduate employers, and, amongst other cool things, connect with IPR graduate Michael Berry.

Upper lft, Lower rt - IPR Director of Career Services Norbert Kreuzer's "fun with technology"

The IPR PAC meeting consisted of the following companies: Sony Entertainment, Fox Television Network, MGM Grand Resorts and Casinos, and AVID. PAC meetings provide a way for IPR to ask industry professionals what training tweaks might help our graduates be even stronger job candidates. We then analyze our current practices and look for ways to improve how and what we teach. PAC meetings also provide the added benefit of making connections with reputable companies, like those above, and sometimes open doors for the future employment of IPR graduates with said companies. With so many cutting edge companies meeting in one location, NAB is the perfect place for this type of networking.

Also representing IPR at NAB were Jeff Deslauriers (IPR Chair, Sound Design for Visual Media), Mitchell Hare (Globe Education Network Associate Dean of Music Business), Brian Jacoby (IPR Director) and Dean Pederson (Network Associate Dean of Digital Video). Below you see them meeting with Studio at The Palms Manager Zoe Thrall. Working for Studio at the Palms would be a dream gig for any IPR graduate, so Norbert Kreuzer (taking the photo) lined up the opportunity for a visit as he and Thrall are past associates.

Lft to Rt: Jeff Deslauriers, Mitchel Hare, Brian Jacoby, Dean Pedersen, Zoe Thrall

Kreuzer also made new network connections with CBS News, NBC Universal, Turner Broadcasting (CNN), ESPN, and Executive Live Sound and Show Director for mega-church Pastor Joel Osteen. The result of a fruitful effort, these connections continue to widen IPR’s sphere of industry influence, and have the continued, potential benefit of added employment opportunities for IPR graduates.

It’s always great to run into IPR Alumni and find out what they’re up to, and Norbert was also able to connect with graduate Michael Berry who has been running lights and sound for national acts on their way through Las Vegas. Watch for a Graduate Success Story featuring Michael on the IPR Alumni blog soon.

King Sandman Performing at DIY 360

Onyx was a graduate of the very first IPR class. Before IPR offered A.A.S Media Arts degree programs in Audio Production, Music Business, and Sound Design, technical diploma programs were the offering. An IPR television ad caught Onyx’s attention at a crucial point in his young career; he toured the school before IPR’s studios and classrooms were fully constructed and decided to enroll.

Hang tight, let’s put this story on rewind…

Onyx was surrounded by musical mentors from a very young age. At 11 years old his uncle took him to visit his first professional recording studio. This inspired him to begin writing his own raps.

For Christmas, age 13, he received a Yamaha PSR 520 keyboard and learned the value of holing away in his bedroom to create his own beats. Music became a permanent fixture in his life to the point where he released his first CD around 1998 then began to receive serious attention from peers and people in his neighborhood. As his artistic sphere of influence began to grow, he even became recognized as a skilled battle rapper.

After High school, Onyx attended college at Clark Atlanta University. Back when CD’s were still a primary source of artist and label income, he scored a record deal with an indie label. They put some advertising dollars behind him too: videos, commercials on BET, and worldwide distribution.

Onyx began networking with DJ Quik and almost ended up on Quik’s label. As often happens when artists work to propel their careers in a positive direction, Onyx’s label was the middle man on the deal and it never happened. In the end the distribution company with the label he was signed to went bankrupt. Through the process he learned some hard business lessons.

Which brings us back to IPR…

King Sandman talking with Host Walter Chancellor Junior

King Sandman may not be a worldwide rap superstar, but because he’s spent some time in the school of hard knocks and learned from some solid mentors, this week’s DIY host Walter Chancellor notwithstanding, he has discovered the DIY way of doing business is the smartest way to roll long term. He made it clear to IPR students that unless they embrace the skills their Instructors are passing on, the potential for failure will always be there.

If you missed this installment of DIY, check the IPRpresents YouTube channel to hear Onyx’s story, and watch him perform.

You can also learn more about King Sandman by visiting his web channels:

www.kingsandmanmusic.com , www.facebbook.com/kingsandmanmusic , www.twitter.com/kingsandmanspot , www.myspace.com/blackcastles , www.youtube.com/jewelleo