by LINDSAY DIEDRICH
Lifestyles Reporter

Cutting tracks and creating opportunity, Split Rail Records isn’t your average record label.

 “The purpose of Split Rail Records is to give students in the music industry studies program hands on experience with recording and company administration,” Jay M. Kramer, senior interdisciplinary studies and business administration major and president of Split Rail, said.

The opportunity extends to any Appalachian student, not just music industry majors, Kramer said.

Senior music industry studies majors Ernie G. Rivas (l) and Cody D. Adams work in the Hayes School of Music studio Friday afternoon for Split Rail Records. Photo by James Fay

Bryan D. Lineberry, junior music industry studies major and vice-president of finance for Split Rail, took advantage of the opportunity at hand.

“I’ve always been interested in working with record labels,” Lineberry said. “When I found out about Split Rail I saw that there was a lot of opportunity in getting to understand the business of record labels.”

Many of the students have grown up in the music industry, although experience is not necessary.

“I’ve been recording since I was 12 and working in studios since I was 14,” Cody D. Adams, music industries major and vice-president of recording for Split Rail, said.

Each end of the music industry offers a different perspective.

“I’ve always been a songwriter,” Ernie G. Rivas, senior music industries major and vice-president of publishing for Split Rail said. 

“Being on the other side of the glass is a lot more challenging,” Rivas said. “You’re dealing with the technology and science, performing is more with your emotions.”

Split Rail provides hands on experience in the recording studio for musicians and students alike. 

This year, the company is working with its third band, Do It To Julia.

Formerly the label signed Defending Brooklyn and Philmont.

Philmont is now signed with EMI Records.

In order to help promote bands, Split Rail is striving to improve the company.

“Right now we operate on a 1960s record label mentality,” Kramer said. “We want to bring it up to a 2020 company.” 

With the growing industry Split Rail is looking to the future. 

“We really want to look ahead at where the industry is going and where we want to be,” Kramer said.

Keeping time with the music industry is made easier with Appalachian’s facilities.

“We have a supportive administration that backs us all the way,” director of the music industries program and the advisor to Split Rail Kim Wangler  said.

We have amazing technology at our hands, Kramer said.

The studio is completely sound proof, not one wall is outside, the studio is a room inside a room.

Split Rail just finished recording Do It To Julia’s first album, “Archie Carroll.”

“It took seven months to record the Do It To Julia album,” Kramer said.

Split Rail is looking forward to the release of the album.

“Do It To Julia is a fantastic group of people that produce cool music,” Kramer said.

“Look for the album to be released in the coming month,” Kramer said.

With the upcoming release of “Archie Carroll” Split Rail is on the search for an additional artist to represent.

“This semester we’re going to be producing EP’s [extended plays] for three different bands,” Kramer said. “Each EP will contain three or four tracks.”

 Split Rail has no defining genre and is open to any style of music.

“We try to be as musically open-minded as we can when choosing who we record,” Kramer said.

One of the three bands chosen to record an EP will be given the chance to record a full-length album.

Any band can submit a demo to the box in the music industries office. The artists have yet to be chosen.

“We are giving three bands a chance and are going to pick the best of the three to give a record deal,” Kramer said. “Even if they don’t come out with a full length album, the three bands will have the recording experience and a top of the line EP at no cost to them.”

When all is said and done, Split Rail is about providing opportunities students interested in recording both their own music and others’ music.

“I sincerely believe in experimental learning and coming out of the textbook,” Wangler said.  “Students do real hands on music business.”

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