Student Chris Bridges sat in a seat of the music management department at Georgia State University in 1996, with just a No. 2 pencil in his backpack and dreams of becoming the next big artist. Just three years later, the world knew him as Ludacris.
Much like worldwide icon Ludacris, young Cal Poly Pomona music artists work hard to produce hits in hopes of gaining talent recognition.
Music industry studies student Joaquin De Castro is a producer, songwriter and solo musician who takes influences rooted in the J-Pop, or Japanese Pop, and rock genres. Switching from studying English his first year to Agricultural Business to Music, De Castro can be found sharing his newly focused passion for the gift of musical composition to his campus peers.
As president of the CPP Music Entertainment and Industry Club, De Castro has worked hard to not only hone his own work but to share his gained knowledge amongst other local aspiring musicians.
“That feeling I had when I was able to get it right and have my music sound good — I want every musician to have that feeling,” said De Castro. “That feeling of, ‘This is possible, and this could be great.’”
Music industry studies student and hip-hop composer Jacob Tejada, or “JT of NGK,” shares a similar love for his own song production.
For the full length article, visit https://thepolypost.com/arts-and-culture/2023/09/12/starving-artists-cal-poly-pomona-musicians-path-for-sustenance/