Campus Sessions showcase UPEI and local musicians

UPEIhas begun taping new Campus Sessions, a popular series ofYouTubevideos featuring local musicians that showcase the university's campus.

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There are 18 music videos in the series begun by the university about five years ago, taped live in classrooms, the quad, the student centre even the library. Taping the sessions trickled off the last few years, but now the university is reviving the series with several new tapings.

"Campus Sessions is an opportunity for us to showcase the campus to people who might not see it otherwise," said UPEI'smedia producer Neal Gillis. He's a UPEI grad now working for the institution, videotaping its television commercials, YouTube content, and managing its Twitter and Facebook accounts.

For instance, popular Island musician Tim Chaisson taped a campus session a few years back many fans and followers search the internet for his music, Gillis said, and will click on his UPEI video.

'Absolutely gorgeous'

"If you watch all the videos, you almost get a mini-tour of campus," said Gillis.

The first video in the new series taped just last week is Charlottetown singer-songwriter Ryan Merry's original indie-folk composition Left Behind he sings and plays guitar outside the university's Main Building as students pass by on the walkways.

"I think it's a great idea to promote UPEI but also kind of promote yourself as well, everybody wins with that," said Merry, who responded to an online callout for campus sessions participants.

"UPEIis absolutely gorgeous in the fall, so it gave us a chance to show that off,"Gillisadded.

'Everybody really excited'

Merry is a part-time musician his day job is with the P.E.I. Workers Compensation Board usually playing covers of popular songs. He and his girlfriend are planning to record an album in the next year, so he's excited to have the exposure for his original music.

"We and Ryan have received a lot of feedback, everybody really excited about it," said Gillis, noting Merry's video already garnered thousands of views on Facebook.

"It was cool to get that feedback from people," addsMerry, who felt encouraged by the positive comments on UPEI's Facebook page.

Gillis has lined up half a dozen local acts in the coming months, each of whom will record two songs for UPEI's YouTube channel.

'Win-win thing'

"I'll record more artists so long as they're willing to come to campus to perform!" Gillissaid, noting it's not a hard sell many musicians are thrilled to have a video they can use as their own promotional tool.

"This is a win-win thing for everybody," said Gillis, noting UPEI does not pay the artists. "A lot of musicians jump at the chance to have someone produce a video for them for free."

Most of the artists are from P.E.I., and celebrating Island talent is something Gillis said UPEI is excited to be involved with. Some are alumni and even ask to tape their videos in their favourite spaces on campus. If you're interested in starring in a campus session, contact Gillis via UPEI's Facebook or Twitter.

You can see the whole playlist here: YouTube.com/UofPEI.

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