By Kate Benedetti
Arts & Entertainment Editor
A singer and jazz trumpeter since seventh grade, junior history major Zac McMillan enjoyed a musical upbringing a little different than most.
Now McMillan is seeking support for his debut album through a website called Kickstarter, which allows musicians to publicize their projects and fans to “pledge” funding in return for exclusive rewards, such as posters and advance copies of the music. If the artist’s financial goal is not reached, supporters receive full refunds.
“People don’t donate, but they are buying the product beforehand, and I am using that income to pay for creating it,” he said.
“My whole family has [always] been about music,” said McMillan, who grew up in Memphis listening to classical music and a capella groups.
An album by singer and jazz pianist Harry Connick Jr., featuring covers of show tunes from “Willie Wonka” and “Annie,” influenced McMillan to join his school’s jazz band. He continued to play and sing in church choirs throughout high school.
At Union, McMillan has been involved in the jazz band, Mosaic’s gospel choir and numerous Open Mic performances, as well as a performance at last spring’s Variety Show.
Among his musical influences are Nat King Cole, Miles Davis and Frank Sinatra.
McMillan also listed Ella Fitzgerald as one of his favorite artists.
“She seems to have a complete grasp of what music is,” he said. “I don’t know what goes through her brain, but it’s beautiful.”
The album, as yet untitled, will feature five to six songs, including three of McMillan’s original compositions. He hopes that his album will aid in bringing the classic jazz music of his inspirations into the modern age.
“People still like their music, but [today] jazz is sort of looked at as silly and fun but not really serious music anymore,” McMillan said.
He added that he hopes to help make jazz a more respectable genre than it has been in recent years. His Kickstarter page seeks to raise nearly $3,000 to cover the cost of his studio work.
So far, it has garnered nearly half that amount.
If fully funded, McMillan hopes to release the album by the end of spring semester 2013.
If he does not succeed in raising the funds through Kickstarter, he plans to explore less expensive options for releasing his music, but “it’s a dream of mine to record in a studio,” he said.
McMillan added that he would be grateful for the support of his fellow students.
“Union students … are my biggest audience, and they’re the ones I need the most help from,” he said. “Even the $2 [minimum pledge] helps me, not only to get closer to my goal but to move me up so that other people who visit the site can see my name.”
The deadline to pledge is March 2.
FIND OUT MORE
www.kickstarter.com/projects/474434758/mcmillan-debut-ep
www.facebook.com/ZacMcmillanMusic
