Schwartz likewise appreciates the veteran duo’s influence. “They’re both a good example of professionalism,” he said. Plus, we’re getting our name out there and seeing the country.” “They have incredible fans who know all the words so that’s great to be around. We get to play incredible venues that we wouldn’t be able to get in on our own,” Hoffman said. “Touring with them is awesome for so many reasons. So far, their relationship with the folk-rock duo has been a fruitful one. Now, they’ll be joining the Indigo Girls for another tour in just a few weeks. The last time the Wheel featured this homegrown group, the Shadowboxers were bidding Atlanta farewell, ready to embark on a tour of the country with fellow Emory alums and Atlanta natives Amy Ray (‘86C) and Emily Saliers (‘85C) of the Indigo Girls. “I think it helped, having an understanding of group dynamics.” Lipkins suggested that their art may have benefitted more from Emory’s academic resources. “Adam took a lot of creative writing classes that were very helpful for songwriting, and I try to link music and psychology as much as possible,” Lipkins said. “Ultimately, the work of individuals can trump the work of the school.” Schwartz asserts that it takes more initiative to find success in a creative field at Emory, but he remains hopeful for the future of Emory musicians. “I hope we’ve left a legacy encouraging musicians covered new ground,” Shwartz said. They view it as “a blessing in disguise” since they might have received less recognition in a more artistically involved environment.
The band worked hard to make itself known on a campus that wasn’t the most band-friendly. “In a way, we benefitted from being the only band on campus – when someone needed one, we were there.” There was no infrastructure,” Hoffman said. “There wasn’t a lot of support for students to form a rock band. However, the band didn’t always feel love from their alma mater. They made many core connections through the Emory network. In light of recent events, it seemed germane to discuss the band’s views on Emory’s standing as an artistic community. The Shadowboxers agreed that they would not have gotten where they are without Emory. “We’re a harmony band because we’re all singers,” said Lipkins, the band’s lead vocalist and keyboardist. From such a revered roster of idols, it’s easy to tell that quality vocals are key to the Shadowboxers’ musical outlook. Everyone from Crosby, Stills and Nash, Stevie Wonder and the Allman Brothers to John Mayer and Dr. When asked about their musical influences in an interview with the Wheel, the band articulated a particular passion for Motown and 1970’s. Lauded names of past and present music legends flowed freely from the mouths of the band mates. And they often dare to combine R&B-worthy vocals with instrumentation that closely resembles rock and roll. They’re smooth, but they aren’t exactly easy-listening. The Shadowboxers’ sound is much like a cross-germination experiment in today’s musical genres. Jaron Pearlman and Ben Williams joined the founding members during their senior year, playing drums and bass respectively. For one, they’ve quit doing gigs as simply “Matt, Scott and Adam” and have come up with a name that they hope evokes “the sentiments of old school rhythm and soul,” Schwartz said.īeyond the addition of the spiffy penumbral moniker, the band has grown to include five musicians. Since that fateful talent competition, a lot has happened to the little trio that could. They ended up winning the first place prize and subsequently started playing shows all around Atlanta. At the time, they were just three sophomores with a nameless band and a song they had written for a music theory class assignment.
12 to see these ambitious band mates jam in Atlanta before touring across the country.īack in 2008 the original trio entered the first-annual Emory Arts Competition on a whim. If you’ve never heard of the Shadowboxers, it’s time to get acquainted with a soulful slice of Emory history. The boys quickly discovered their respective musical abilities fit together in perfect harmony. The musical journey began right here at Emory University where Scott Schwartz (‘11BBA), Adam Hoffman (‘11BBA) and Matt Lipkins (‘11C) met during their freshmen year. The story of the Shadowboxers is a transcontinental tale of hard work and talent.
0 kommentar(er)
