Lauren Davis, Campus Carrier asst. arts and living editor

In the campus community, a distinct group of students are embarking on a musical journey and diving into the world of recording and producing music. Students are using writing and producing music as a creative outlet to tell stories and to reflect personal trials and triumphs. 

Three Berry students in particular have all released songs and albums within the past year, and have filled the Berry community with their musical presence. They each use different styles to produce albums and singles. 

Sophomore Gail Anasco dropped her new album, “Episodic Recollections,” on Feb. 18, 2023 which consists of 7 songs all written by her. Anasco has been releasing music on all platforms since May of 2022, when she released her first single, “God Said to Me”. According to Anasco she has been writing songs since the 9th grade when she began to play guitar, and eventually realized she had a talent for singing. Her inspiration for writing music is to tell her story, and to share her faith. 

“I would want to write a book, but it’s easier to just write songs,” Anasco said. “This is something i’m really passionate about”.

Senior Brayden Kimbrough dropped a new single, “Peaceharvester” on Oct. 13, 2023 under his artist name, “Lillian Bear”. Kimborough says his artist name comes from a combination of wanting to be androgynous as a musical artist on campus along with one of his biggest inspirations musically, the artist Panda Bear. Kimbrough’s released music consists of  a variety of instrumental pieces that he has written and recorded all on his own. According to Kimbrough his music style can broadly be categorized as electronic inspired by lofi, drum and bass and house music. 

Kimbrough says his creative process for writing songs looks different depending on the circumstances. He usually writes music when there is a specific change in his personal life. Kimbrough starts with an instrumental motif and then works around that specific aspect of the song. He then makes different versions of each song he writes and then releases the one he feels most connected to and is the best quality. According to Kimbrough he found himself wanting to write music at the peak of COVID-19 amid the period of isolation. 

“It’s very easy to convey emotions, thoughts and ideas with words but my challenge for myself was how can I aspire to make that same amount of emotional impact by doing something out of my willhouse,” Kimbrough said. “I know at this point in my life that my artistic outlets will always stay with me.” 

Kimbrough is putting out a new album on November 17 of this year called “It’ll all Be over Soon” which will close this chapter of his musical journey as Lillian Bear. 

Senior Myles Mason has recently released his first ever single “take me high” on Oct. 13, 2023. Mason defined his music style as somewhere underneath the pop umbrella with undertones of 70’s music and bubblegum pop, but does not like to box himself into one specific genre. Mason’s big inspiration for his love for music was Ariana Grande, saying that going to her concert at the age of 16 was his true awakening.  He also finds artists like Troye Sivan and Taylor Swift to be huge lyrical influences when it comes to writing music. 

From June to August of 2023 Mason worked with Austen Earp and Trejohn Skinner to produce “take me high.” Mason described this process as frustrating and stressful due to all of the different versions of the song he had to choose from. He said that he writes many of his songs on the toilet, because that is his safe place where he can get away. Mason says that his single was written on the toilet the night before his first collaborative meeting to begin the process to release the song. According to Mason, he feels a spiritual connection with the song and that specific moments in his life were directing the song where it needed to go. He says that the Berry community has supported him through the entire writing and release process.

“This is what I’m supposed to be doing in my life,” Mason said “The song would not have been possible without Berry.” 

Mason’s new single “take me high” is now out on all music platforms, and he is currently working on his first EP.