Drexel University’s student-run record label, MAD Dragon Records, is currently working with the band Motion City Soundtrack to produce a curated series of 7-inch record single releases titled Making Moves, according to a press release issued Feb. 23 by the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design.
The recording sessions, which took place last fall, were produced by members of Motion City at Drexel’s studios and engineered by music industry alumnus Lenny Skolnick and Dave Petit, along with Drexel undergraduate Justin Chapman. The sessions were recorded for a documentary “Making of” DVD that will be released along with the box set of the singles in late 2012.
According to the Drexel press release, each member of Motion City Soundtrack produced two singles that will be released digitally and on 7-inch vinyl in support of Making Moves, which will feature up-and-coming artists. The records will be co-released by MDR and Motion City’s label, The Boombox Generation, with distribution by the Alternative Distribution Alliance, a division of the Warner Music Group.
In addition to two songs contributed by Motion City Soundtrack, Making Moves featured songs by several bands, including The Company We Keep (Detroit), Brick + Mortar (Toms River, N.J.), Goldrush (Richmond, Va.), The Skies Revolt (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and A Great Big Pile of Leaves (Brooklyn, N.Y.).
The first Making Moves release will be from The Company We Keep and is due out in late April, and five more releases will follow through fall 2012.
“It’s been fabulous for the students in the Music Industry Program and MAD Dragon Records to work with Motion City Soundtrack for the Making Moves series,” music industry professor Terry Tompkins said in the press release. “This partnership provides a rare opportunity for our students to work with an accomplished and recognized band. [Motion City Soundtrack’s] commitment and enthusiasm about working with our students has exceeded our wildest dreams.”
Making Moves is kicking off the project with a showcase at the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas next month and will headline the annual MAD Dragon Concert on campus this May.