photo by Sydney Schaefer
Hannah Jenkins, a sophomore sport, art and entertainment management major, is the newest artist on the University’s record label, Pioneer Records.

When Hannah Jenkins received an email about Point Park’s new recording label, Pioneer Records, she made a submission. Now, she is the newest recording artist on campus.

“When I got an email saying that they were opening up this recording label, I got really excited,” the sophomore said. “It’s an opportunity for me to sing.”

Aside from majoring in sports, arts and entertainment management, Jenkins is an acoustic songstress that began songwriting in high school while being a part of musicals and chorus performances. Even though she doesn’t have an issue with digital music, she prefers to perform acoustic music, similar to John Mayer, who is one of her favorite artists.

“It has always just been me and my guitar,” Jenkins said. “I think acoustic suits my voice better, and I really enjoy it, and I’ve always loved stripped-down versions of songs, too.” 

Jenkins was rewarded free production of an EP, which also includes studio time at Red Caimen Media Studios and publishing of 300 copies of her music project. 

Jenkins’ voice caught the attention of the listeners, which included Ed Traversari, Point Park associate professor of the School of Business.

“When we all heard her, we thought that she had a soft, but kind of a sweet voice, actually, a really nice voice. She sings very well,” Traversari said. “When we all got together, and all looked at our numbers, we all said, ‘Wow, we all picked her.’ So that kind of made us realize that she was our selection.” 

Finding a contest winner was a difficult task for him, and others that were involved in the development of the Pioneer Records contest, which will take place each year, Traversari said — not because of the lack of talent, but because of the large amount of artists that secretly express themselves on campus.

“We had all kinds, and it wasn’t easy because we have a lot of good talent around here,” Traversari said. “I’ve seen them outside in the park playing.”

Benson believes that having a record label on campus “fits the profile of the school really well.” 

“I think it’s a really good idea just because it an artsy school for people like Hannah,” Benson said as Jenkins smiled, along with their other friend, Olivia Klock, a Point Park sophomore with plans of majoring in marketing.

Klock is extremely proud of Jenkins’ victory, and she believes that a recording studio should be on campus for other artists as well. She believes the lack of a recording studio on campus “defeats the purpose” of having a record label on campus.

“Hannah loves singing, and I’m sure that there’s a bunch of other people that love singing,” Klock said. “Having a recording studio on campus would be so much better.”

Klock recalled a time when Jenkins sung one of her own songs for Klock’s mother and  how Jenkins’ voice affected her mother in an emotional way.

“She came to my house for the summer,” Klock said. “She’s just so comfortable doing it. It made my mom almost cry.” 

Jenkins is currently recording and working on her project while completing her studies. She hopes to take her talent to a bigger platform. Even though she’s the first artist that has been chosen for Pioneer Records, she believes that many others have “hidden talents” and “need to be heard.”

“People that are undiscovered need to be discovered,” Jenkins said, “and put their voices out there.”