Tricia Fishbune

It seems that every day there’s a new star that emerges from the video-sharing website YouTube.  Take Jenna Marble for example.  Or take a second to look back on Rebecca Black’s fifteen minutes of fame (okay, now you’re free to erase that memory permanently).  How many musicians get their big break from YouTube? Ahem, Justin Bieber, only one of the most influential pop sensations of all time.  The advent of YouTube allowed for user-generated content to quickly circulate the web, making it easy for people to watch, upload, and share videos more efficiently.  Partner a group of talented individuals with the YouTube revolution and you’ve got an instant hit.  By making comedic videos, Katie, Jon, and Lucas were able to gain popularity in the midst of the YouTube frenzy and eventually build a prominent audience even before YouTube fame was commonplace.  As a member of JKL Productions, Jon Smet reflects on the joys of doing something he loves- making videos-  while reaching overnight success in the case of their video “Nobody’s Perfect”.  

How would you describe JKL Productions?

It’s 6:45 AM. The last thing you want to do is leave your warm cozy bed, throw on an outfit, and spend all day at school. What’s five more minutes anyway? I mean, this is what the snooze button is made for. Twenty minutes later and your parents are screaming at you that you’ll be late for school- again. Wonderful. Fast-forward to college and somehow 11 AM classes are still as hard to wake up for as grade school and high school. Sometimes, we get caught up in complaining about the little things like how tired we are, or how much homework we have, or how impossible that midterm was, but imagine your life with the privilege of a quality education stripped away from you. Suddenly, your C on that lab report seems pretty small compared to the problems you could face without schooling at all. Sometimes, it’s easy to take education for granted, especially if our family members have paved the way for us. President Emily Parkinson of the UW Chapter of She’s the First is working hard to make education possible for young women in developing countries and allow them to become the first in their families to graduate, so they too can pave the way for future generations and become empowered themselves through education.

Tell us about She’s the First.

She's the First is a national non-profit organization based in New York City with campus chapters at universities all over the country. The mission of She's the First is to promote girls' education in developing countries, so that they may be the first in their families to graduate from school. As a campus chapter, our main objective is to raise money through creative fundraisers for the three students that we are currently sponsoring in Guatemala. We also strive to spread awareness of our cause on campus through events like documentary screenings and discussions.

Back2Back2Back for the Rosebowl.  The Badgers do it again!  As January 1st nears closer and all plans to Cali are solidified, we must not forget a crucial part of game day: the UW Band.  No matter what happens on the field the UW Band is always there supporting the players and the crowd.  Their enthusiastic songs and choreography never fail to create an incredible atmosphere in Camp Randall.  With Campus Celebrity Malcolm Robey as drum major, the Rosebowl will be no exception.   

What is your role in the UW Band as drum major?

I am responsible for leading the practices and performances of the band in addition to keeping the group organized and structured. At practices, my roles involve keeping the group focused whether it be calling the band to “ attention” or giving a motivational speech on and before game day. In addition, they serve as the liaison between the band director and the band. 

Have you had any previous leadership roles?

It’s amazing how much a song can change with a couple of pushes of a button.  That mediocre song can immediately become your favorite by combining different melodies together.  Take any of the remixes by Skrillex for example.  Going along with the music theme, this week’s campus celebrity Adam Britt explains exactly what DJs do and how they can perfectly sync different sounds together and transition between songs to keep the audience entertained and pumped up at any event.  It’s not quite like what you’ve seen on TV; DJs do a lot more than twist the turntables.  Let me tell you from experience- it’s a lot harder than it looks! 

How did you become interested in music? 
My grandparents took me to the symphony a lot when I was little and when I turned five, I started piano lessons. Then at age 12, I learned to play guitar and trumpet, and my senior year in high school I played euphonium. Music has always been a huge part of my life.

Did you always want to be a DJ?
I never really thought about it until high school when I got into electronic music. I saw Basshunter and Steve Aoki perform in Milwaukee and I was curious about the process, so I got some turntables and practiced until I got the hang of it.

Who do you look up to most in the music industry?
Madeon, Big Gigantic, Pretty Lights, Dillon Francis, RL Grime, Minnesota, Flosstradamus, and Milkman are all up there.