Loops Rule at Heavy Rotation Party
Julia Easterlin activates another loop with a foot pedal.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Jordan Tarrant (right) faces off with lead guitarist Russell Lacy.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Ann Driscoll performs "Ringmaster."
Photo by Kelly Davidson
KR & the Future performs. From left: KR Dorsey, Jules Powell, and Kyle Miles
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Liptease. From left: John Engle and Michel Heyaca
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Tin Soldier. From left: guitarists Christopher Putt and Dustin Olyan.
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Singer/songwriter Liz Longley
Photo by Kelly Davidson
HRR Codirector Tommy Bohlen (left) and A&R director Cierra Walker
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Brazilian singer Tais Alvarenga performs "Nem La Nem Ca."
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Keeley Bumford of Black Kettle
Photo by Kelly Davidson
Berklee student talent in all of its glorious form was on display at last month's Dorm Sessions 7 CD release party. There were rockers, hip-hoppers, folkies, popsters. Composers, performers, producers. Electronica, Americana, r&b, Brazilian. And there was a packed Berklee Performance Center of nearly 1,200 concertgoers—many of them fellow Berklee students enthusiastically urging on their classmates.
One of the biggest crowd responses of the night came for guitarist and vocalist Julia Easterlin, who performed solo while using a looping station to create and build backing tracks as she performed live. On "Go Straightaway," Easterlin left her guitar on its stand and used loops to create the sound of a percussion section and backup chorus.
But all nine artists on stage—and on the student-run Heavy Rotation Records disc—compelled the audience to stand and cheer: Black Kettle (indie pop/folk); Ann Driscoll (pop/rock); Jordan Tarrant (country-rock); Liz Longley (singer/songwriter-folk); Tin Soldier (rock); Lip Tease (r&b/electro-pop); Tais Alvarenga (Brazilian pop/folk); KR and the Future (hip-hop); and Easterlin.
Heavy Rotation Records gave away free copies of Dorm Sessions 7 to everyone in the audience. Now there's a good deal during a recession or any other time.
Browse through the photo gallery to get some glimpses of the show.