by ALLISON CASEY
Lifestyles Editor

After months of hard work writing and recording demos, one band will receive a full recording contract through Split Rail Records, Appalachian State University’s student-run record label.

The Major Sevens, a bluegrass band, Major Magicks, an electronic funk-rock band and Hope Massive, an internationally known new age reggae band recorded EPs throughout the year in recording studios at Appalachian. 

The show begins at 9 p.m. Admission is $5.

“They’re all incredibly talented,” Bobby G. Sain, junior music industries major and vice president of public relations for Split Rail, said.

Sales and crowd response at the show will determine who receives the record deal.

Each band recorded an EP with three or four songs. The EP’s will sell for $4 at the show.

“This will be a huge event and we could possibly sell out the Dragonfly with the event,” Jay M. Kramer, senior interdisciplinary studies and business administration major and president of Split Rail, said. “It’s gonna be wild.” 
Split Rail began with 27 submissions from interested bands in the beginning of the school year, and narrowed it down to three. 

“Whoever wins will have a great success,” Sain said.

Do it to Julia and Defending Brooklyn have both achieved success through Split Rail Records.

“All three bands have poured out their best on the three and four track EPs and with the hard work of recording majors, the quality of the albums is phenomenal,” Kramer said.

Stephon LaMar, lead vocalist for Major Magicks, said he is looking forward to the show to get more exposure for the band, regardless of the outcome.

“We try to push the limits,” LaMar said. “We all come from such diverse musical backgrounds.”

From Thelonious Monk to Les Claypool, the band members draw inspiration from a wide variety of sources.

The next stop for Major Magicks is to record a full album, LaMar, who describes the band as “rock-soul-funk fusion,” said.

Split Rail tries to support local music by providing bands with opportunities to succeed.

A record label assists with marketing and booking, things which are difficult to complete without assistance, Sain said.

“Local music is the reason we have big bands,” Sain said. “Metallica was a local band in L.A. in the 80s.”

As for the term “sell-out,” often given to small bands who make it big, Sain said, “You can only be indie for so long.”

The term comes from an ignorance for what record labels actually do, Saine said.

“Sell-out is a bad word for ignorance,” he said.

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