photo by Chloe Jakeila
Jesse Naus, owner of Red Caimen Media, works the soundboard inside the studio at Pioneer Records, the Point Park University operated record label. Pioneer Records company is located inside Red Caimen Media in Uptown. 

Jesse Naus sits behind the producer’s desk, shuffling faders and adding layers to a freshly recorded song from one of the two soundproof rooms across the hall. 

His dog, Archer, silently sits curled up on the black leather couch behind him watching his owner nodding in approval as another harmonious accent slips its way into the song. The spry Naus is a producer with the university’s very own record label, Pioneer Records. He is one half of the brain child behind not just Pioneer Records, but also Pioneer Star. 

The Pioneer Star is a promotion brought to you by the University’s record label Pioneer Records. Pioneer Records offers one lucky student or student band the exclusive opportunity to record an album with Naus, Red Caiman Media’s music producer. 

“We’re looking for artists,” Ed Traversari, a sports, arts and entertainment management (SAEM) associate professor, said. 

Two years ago, Traversari decided to collaborate with Naus, who also teaches at Duquesne University, and Red Caiman Media to give Point Park students an avenue to produce music via their very own record company. With the aid of SAEM department head Steven Tanzilli, Traversari and Naus created one of the most impressive production outlets the University has to offer and seemingly overnight, Pioneer Records was born. 

Point Park students have the unique privilege of being the only college in the Pittsburgh area with their own recording studio. They not only get the chance to record, but they get hands-on experience learning how studio production works; how to promote their album; how album distribution works; touring, even CD manufacturing – literally every aspect of the music production process and the business of being an artist. 

After winning Pioneer Records’ contest last year, junior Hannah Jenkins went on to record and release her debut album, “Something Out Of Nothing,” which was released earlier this year. Jenkins is a singer/songwriter who took her acoustic-folk sound to a new level because of the opportunities Pioneer Star presented to her. 

“The idea – from the beginning – was giving people (students) an all-access pass to something, for the most part, if you’re not working in the business you don’t get to see,” Naus said. 

The Traversari and Naus duo strives to ensure that every student involved gets the absolute most out of this exclusive experience. 

“[Pioneer Records] gives students a chance to learn about something that, most students who want to go that route, never get a chance to learn yet,” Traversari said. 

The duo puts a huge emphasis on the “reality” of the business. They want to make sure students understand every aspect of the industry– from the initial album recording all the way down to the actual album cover’s design. 

Students will have the opportunity to learn how to work under the pressure of label budgets, how sessions (and session scheduling) works, along with the chance to actually watch musical producers and engineers help craft their music. They are not your typical academic outlet; they are in Naus’ words, “an everyday working studio.” 

“This is how it is done,” Naus said. “When you leave here and you’re not a student anymore it is going to be done the exact same way.” 

Pioneer Star is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a student(s) thirsty for musical greatness. It is the chance to get that ‘break’ while still in school. An opening that not only shows them what life in the music industry is truly like, but also what it takes to make it. 

“It’s things we certainly can’t tell in the classroom,” Traversari said. “We can talk about them, but you got to get out and do it.” 

To apply for your chance to be this year’s Pioneer Star, aspiring artists/bands can submit their demos (no more than three songs) at Pioneer Records office located at 1110 in the West Penn Building. Students can also submit online at ppupioneerrecords.com/pioneerstar. The deadline for Pioneer Star submissions is Sept. 18. 

Pioneer Records is also accepting internships and volunteers for any students interested in marketing, production, and management in the industry. For more information on internships e-mail Traversari at [email protected] or visit the SAEM office in the West Penn Building.