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Local musicians take WSU classes to further success

Local music artists who are current Weber State University students are using their classes as a tool to teach them how to record albums on their own and how to run a business.

Aaron Vanderhoeven is a junior who recently transferred to WSU. On stage, Vanderhoeven goes by “Suprezze Hustle” or simply “Supreme.” He runs a local record company called THC Records and currently has a pre-release CD from Shady Records called Ambitions of a Hustler. He records his albums at his home, using equipment such as Pro Tools 10, which he learned how to use by taking classes at WSU.

“The reason we’re in school is to do a bigger movement, to get more education, and I want to do it just to learn more about business,” Vanderhoeven said. “I’ve had this company a long time, and I want to learn more about how to progress it even better than it has been. I got the right connections; I just want to know how to build it up bigger.”

Vanderhoeven also takes classes such as Persuasive Selling to help further the business aspect of his music ventures.

“I feel Weber State is a really positive, good environment to go to school,” he said. “It is something great to be a part of. I’m extremely happy to be a part of Weber State.”

Vanderhoeven said fellow rapper “Booda Ty” is the one who helped him decide to go to WSU to help further both his business and music career. These two rappers frequently collaborate together.

Charmbay Jones, or “Booda Ty,” is a sophomore at WSU. Jones is originally from California and said he has recorded approximately 13 different albums with various artists. While classes such as the Pro Tools 10 course have helped refine his skills, he said he already knew his way around most of the equipment.

“I’ve been doing music so long I already know what I am doing,” he said. “I got the radio class; I am doing my own little specialty show on Tuesday nights, Tuesday-Night Jam from 8-6. It’s kind of fun.”

Trenton McKean, a junior at WSU, plays in a band called “Son of Ian.” The band’s title comes from his last name, which is Scottish and literally means “son of Ian.” McKean is “not a fan of Pro Tools;” he said he finds Sonar to work better for his band because he can do more with it.

McKean said he is in school to learn the business aspect of being a musician.

“I’ve done the internships,” he said. “I’ve already done all those. I’ve done the record deals, but the thing is you don’t learn (business). School is great to educate you on the business side of things, how to communicate. . . . It’s really just business. As a musician, you don’t realize you just want to do music and have your heart and soul into it and just writing and performing and recording, but the realistic aspect is you have to know how to run a business.”

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