by ALLISON CASEY
Lifestyles Editor

Split Rail Records’ new band hopes to make “Magick” this semester as they record their first full-length album.

Major Magick signed the contract last week, making them the third band on Appalachian State University’s student-run label.

“They’re a great band,” Kim Wangler, director of the music industries program, said. “We’re very excited to work with them.”

Officers of Split Rail Records stand in the Broyhill Music Center recording studio Thursday with the contract from the rock and soul fusion band, Major Magick, signed earlier that morning. Photo by Tommy Penick.

The band was selected from three bands based on their work in the studio, live performance and success in marketing and promotions.

Major Magick joins other student bands Defending Brooklyn and Do it Julia on the label.

Described as a rock, soul fusion, the band is composed of Cody D. Adams, senior music industries major on bass guitar, Nate W. Osbourne, junior music industries major on drums, Mike E. Runyon, senior music performance major on keyboards and Stephon LaMarr on vocals.

Iris A. McElroy, senior recording major, will work with a team of other students to record the album.

McElroy recorded the band’s EP, but this is her first full-length project on her own.

“They’re a lot of fun to work with in the studio,” she said. “They’re really talented. They’ve finally developed their own sound.”

The band will track the drums first starting Feb. 8 and will likely be in the studio until 4 a.m. They hope to have the album done by Reading Day Eve.

“They make it fun, Stephon especially,” McElroy said. “He dances a lot.”

Jay Kramer, senior interdisciplinary studies major and president of Split Rail, said the band has two contracts, a recording and publishing contract, which are written by the university attorney and tailored for each band.

It took the band about a month to sign the contract, he said.

Split Rail Records will pay for all recording and marketing costs until breaking even, at which point the label will split profits with the band 50/50, Wangler said.

In addition to working with the three bands already signed, Split Rail Records is accepting applications for distribution deals, which will allow bands marketing opportunities through Split Rail.

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