IUS Times

New Dynamic Records Emerges with a New Approach

The new record label at IU Southeast - New Dynamic Records - is not your typical music label. Erich Stem, assistant music professor at IUS and founder/artistic director of New Dynamic Records, said the idea was developed after witnessing the discontinuation of several well-known labels of contemporary music. "Several labels such as Composers Recordings Inc. and our region's own First Edition Series of the Louisville Orchestra have ceased their programs and sold their catalogues to other companies," he said. "We thought now would be a perfect time to create a label that will continue the rich tradition of discovering and recording music of our own century."

Taking this charge, the faculty at IUS developed a broader initiative called the New Music Project, which aims to discover, make available, and record music, by both well-known and emerging composers of the 21st Century.

Part of the purpose of this initiative is to find a paradigm that will effectively integrate new music in a culture that is constantly changing. "I believe that finding the right model for a record label that records music traditionally focused on narrow markets will be one critical aspect to the survival of this and other labels," Stem said.

As a result, New Dynamic Records will operate as an all-IUS produced CD that will combine the talents of faculty and student performers, recording engineers, graphic artists, web developers, and business majors. Examples of this collaboration can be seen through the CD jacket and logo designed by Fine Arts students, promotional strategies developed by music business students, and the recording and sound help by music tech. students.

One of the other keys to success, according to Stem, will involve making a concerted effort to reach younger listeners. "I think, despite some of the wonderful programs that are currently going on around the country, young audiences are still not connecting to the traditional 'classical music' field," he said. "Younger listeners today - especially between the ages of 17 and 25 - are more inclined to experiment with their selection of music than any other age groups. And because of the more experimental nature of contemporary music, I believe it is important that we tap into this market."

Part of this effort will involve working with the current multi-media climate. New Dynamic Records will launch a website this month, www.NewDynamicRecords.com, which will, in addition to listing the new releases, take the listener behind the scenes into the creation of each composition, featuring different aspects such as interview clips and other multi-media presentations.

After receiving a yearly financial commitment through the Indiana University Commitment to Excellence Fund, The New Music Project has moved ahead with its first release of five works by composers Joan Tower, Michael Torke, Perry Goldstein, Robert Gibson, and local composer, Lu Pei. The first release, titled Influence, will also feature recorded performances by the critically acclaimed Aurelia Saxophone Quartet, Eighth Blackbird Ensemble, and the Amelia Piano Trio. "Each piece incorporates some 'influence' from an outside source such as other styles/genres of music like spirituals, Chinese folk music, the music of Igor Stravinsky, and in one case, the sound exploration of certain instruments," said Stem.

The CD will be available this fall and will be distributed nationally and made available for sale to the public through Amazon.com.

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