UF has its own record label thanks to Rachel Ring.
The 21-year-old senior management major pitched the idea for Swamp Records because she thought UF would benefit from it.
“FSU has one, and UCF has one,” Ring said. “Why can’t we have one, too?”
In Fall 2013, Swamp Records was born, with Ring as the co-founder and head director. Ring said she was grateful to Student Government for trusting her to create the record label.
The goal of Swamp Records is to help student musicians and local bands launch their careers to the next level, she said.
“I knew at UF there was a lack of attention for music, and there’s lots of music in Gainesville that people don’t know about,” Ring said.
Ring has always loved music, but she knew playing music wasn’t for her. However, she said she was very interested in managing a label and helping artists start their careers and get songs on the radio.
“I wanted to make a difference in the community and be hands on in my education and help myself learn more about the music industry,” Ring said.
Since this is the inaugural year for the record label, Ring said her role is to lay the foundation by creating a logo and a brand and gathering a following on social media. She has also worked to make connections by talking to different musicians, record labels, and music venues.
Swamp Records’ first event, Swamp Showcase, will be on Friday at The Jam. It is a free event that will feature music from Gainesville artists.
“I hope it makes a difference for the bands and artists living in Gainesville,” Ring said. “Music is important for building a community. I’ve talked to lots of bands and musicians, and they’re excited.”
Ring said she learned a lot about having a record label from her two internships within the music industry. One was at Sony Music Entertainment, and the other was at ATO Records, a smaller indie label.
“I learned how important it is to be detail-oriented and to be able to adapt to future changes in the industry because of technology and to think outside of the box,” Ring said.
After she graduates in May, Ring said she hopes she will be able to move to New York to work for an indie or major record label.
Ring also said she learned a lot from her three years as a member of the Reitz Union Board of Entertainment where she served as a director for the bands committee during her sophomore year and as vice president of external affairs during her junior year.
“I think music is just very powerful,” Ring said. “It’s a way of communication, a way of helping people think differently than they normally would. Anything from music therapy to helping people after a bad day, there’s a lot of possibility in music to change things.”