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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1993)
Nfe Arts@Entertainment Ft ew arrival NL student invests interests in producing reggae disc ■By Anne Steyer ■s tafl Reporter_ The spread of reggae fever ha> ■infected one University of Nebraska ■Lincoln student, and he’s turning the ■passion into profit. Lincoln native Carter Van Pelt, 23, ■ served as executive producer of ggac I -99 - ILes Exodus hails from Minneapo lis but has found a strong following in Lincoln. The band frequently slops at Rockin’ Robin, 1435 O St. Van Pelt said his role as executive producer did not involve him in the recording process. Instead, he helped create the con cept, design and final product. He also helped plan which songs, in what order, made it on the album. Lcs Exodus’ lead Singer, Innocent, came up with the basic concept for the cover. But, otherwise, Van Pelt said, he had “total creative liberty.” That was a tall order for someone who had never before been involved in music production, but Van Pell said he wasn’t daunted by his inexperi ence. “I didn’t think about how difficult it would be long enough to get intimi dated,” he said. .Van Pelt began work on Kilimanjaro" in February. The final cost of his part of the production was nearly $3,800. Van Pelt said he delved intohis life savings for the project, but he didn’t consider it a risky venture. “I had no intention of losing my ass,” he said. “I know how good this band is.” If half of the compact discs and cassettes sell, Van Pelt said, he stands to break even. Everything past that is profit that Van Pell and the band will split proportionately to their invest ments. Van Pelt said the album’s produc tion went over budget, but everything docs. And Van Pell believes in this project. Van Pell said he was hooked r ■ ■■ ... " ■' the first lime he heard the band. “I went in there,and I saw them, he said. “After one or two songs, I was out there dancing.” Van Pelt said he developed a rela tionship with the members. Later he approached them about recording. Les Exodus had been contacted by a record company, but no deal had been completed yet. So Van Pell jumped in. “Maybe I was bluffing my way through it,” he said, “but I didn’t see any reason why I couldn’t do iL” % ■ Van Pelt said he had no idea where to begin, but he received help from local music producers and spent a lot ■ Of time on the phone with production companies. The thing that spurred Van Pelt’s interest in reggae was, ironically, the rock band The Police. “One of the first albums I ever bought was The Pol ice’s ‘Ghost in the Machine,’” he said. “There’s a song called ‘One World’ — very reggae inspired.” Van Pelt’s interest in reggae did not start with Les Exodus. The senior broadcasting major has been the host of “Reggae Fever,” a KRNU music show, since last September. The show airs every Friday from 8 to 10 p.m. Van Pelt said that experience stuck with him so much that he wanted to release “Kilimanjaro” under a label called “One World Records.” Unfor tunately, Van Pell said, he couldn’t because a label by that name already existed. ‘ '■ - it I'm as proud of this as anything I’ve ever done. It’s a monster of a project hut look at It. It’s beautiful. —Van Pett student producer -♦* - Instead, he launched the label “Umoja Records.” Umoja means “unity*’ in Swahili. Van Pelt said the label was appropriate for Lcs Exodus and what they stood for. Van Pelt said he never expected to be involved with reggae as an execu tive producer, but it has been a posi tive experience — and one he’s fin ished with a certain amount of pride. “I’m as proud of this as anything I’ve ever done. It’s a monster of a project, but look at it," he said, “It’s beautiful.” RoWn Trtmarchi/DN Carter Van Pelt stuffs Jewel boxes with the Les Exodus CD covers. San Fransisco reggae band debuts with songs of social relevance, love m & ■ .' ' * ' * slop for the band. The 10-song, one-dub disc is comprised of fairly diverse “so cially relevant” material. “United Stales of Africa,” in particular, has much to say without being preachy: “United States of AfricaAVc ’ vc got to raise up a new nalion/And unite...” A couple of upbeat love songs — “My Number One” and “Afri can Woman”— break up the seri ous mood. Just the opposite effect from “Sorry,” an apology in song from singer Innocent to his parents, a lament about what promises were broken and what expectations were not met. The real highlight, though, is the stirring title track, “Kilimanjaro.”Thc melody is beau tiful; the lyrics, inspirational. And the funky “Africa Dub,” complete with the body-swaying rhythms that make reggae so great, is a great ending to the disc. Les Exodus puls on a fantastic live show. The dance floor is al ways overflowing, and the audi ence is encouraged to sing along. The opportunity to see them pre sents itself at Rockin’ Robin, 1435 O St. Les Exodus will celebrate the release of “Kilimanjaro” there to night. — Anne Steyer