It’s not often you get a pitch from a college student who is running a *real* record label for a college class. I’m talking real bands, real distribution, festival presence and all promoting actually good music.

, Columbia College Chicago’s student-run record label is releasing a 22 song Chompilation in October. With tracks from familiar names like Office, Maps & Atlases and Walter Meego to undiscovered (and good!) bands like Netherfriends and Pet Lions, this is one compilation project worth checking out. And that says a lot, because I typically highly dislike compilations.

I snagged one of the college students in charge of PR for the album, Ashley Brown, and bribed her with free pizza and beer to answer some questions about the project, the album, Daytrotter, Pitchfork and her grade in the class…

What exactly is this Chompilation project?
The Chompilation is the release last year’s AEMMP Records class came up with to re-invent the label and start putting the label back on the map. Every year AEMMP Records puts out at least one release, whether it is an EP, full-length, or a compilation of many artists. Last year we had new professors leading the group, and AEMMP Records started a whole new chapter to re-invent the label and take over the world. The first step was to come out with a powerful compilation that showcases what the city of Chicago has to offer. This is the ultimate chicago compilation for anyone wanting to know what artists to check out in the area from all different genres.

From this “Chompilation” release, we have developed relationships with a few of the artists and hope to continue building the trust and friendship that is required to have a successful label/artist collaboration. This is our second step toward re-inventing the label and stepping outside of the traditional, dry, record label role.

What a minute — don’t students learn better by reading things from books and taking tests? What’s all this hands-on crap?
That’s a common misunderstanding. All this hands-on crap has brought us together as a class and helped each student build a portfolio and real life skills that you would not receive in a traditional classroom setting. I know the names of all the students in my AEMMP Records “class.” We go out to shows together, we hangout and grab food together, and we also support each other when it comes to making important decision on which artists to work with and what directions we want to take as a class.

It’s a unique atmosphere, and I think I have learned more from the first summer semester of AEMMP Records than I have in my past 3 years of general education classes.

Our final test happened the weekend of Pitchfork Music Festival. We were graded upon our performance at the CHIRP Record fair. It wasn’t about selling the Chompilations as much as it was about developing relationships with the other vendors, artists, and concert-goers to make them aware of what AEMMP Records is doing. We are a unique label because we are a class, and I do get grades, and at the end of the day we report to our professors. It’s an amazing experience, and I think I can speak for the entire class when I say that we are extremely lucky to have a program like this at Columbia College Chicago.

What’s your favorite track on the album and why?
It’s a really tough choice because I have a couple favorites. Rachele Eve’s track, “Harold Moon” has an extremely catchy guitar part and I absolutely love the sound of her voice. Then Pet Lions, “Propellor Plane” always just makes me want to dance. But my personal favorite would probably have to be Big Science’s,

“My Career As A Ghost,” just because it doesn’t sound like anything else. I’m a sucker for new music, especially when it comes to bands that play a sound that can’t be heard on the major radio stations or MTV.

(MORE AFTER THE JUMP)
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