Point Park University’s student-operated record label, Pioneer Records, has named Elias Khouri and Dejah Monea, both sports, arts and entertainment management majors, as its 2019-20 Pioneer Stars.
Khouri, 18, is a freshman focusing on the rock, blues and soul genres. He cites artists including Peter Frampton, Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana as among his inspirations.
Monea, 20, is a junior who has been developing her music talent since she was 9. Her inspiration comes from both other young aspiring artists as well as musical success stories including Beyonce, Chance the Rapper and Lauren Hill,. She focuses her style of music in the rhythm and blues genre.
“Elias and Dejah are two exceptional artists. Elias is talented guitar player and he has already done a lot for his own career and Dejah has an amazing voice and shows a lot of range as an artist,” says Aimee Renninger, director of operations at Pioneer Records.
Since 2015, the label has held a regional music competition. Those selected as Pioneer Stars receive their own singles and copies of their single with custom artwork created by Pioneer Records. This year, with two artists signed, the label’s roster has grown to eight.
Ed Traversari is a sports, arts and entertainment management professor and Pioneer Records supervisor.
“Pioneer Records offers our students first-hand experience in developing and marketing an artist and all that comes with that, including publicity, social media and marketing. Since we introduced Pioneer Records our students have helped launch the careers of eight talented area musicians,” he says.
The Pioneer Stars will have the opportunity to record a song with Jesse Naus, owner/engineer at Red Caiman Studios and will receive their own CD copies to distribute. Additionally, Monea will work with the SAEM music video workshop class and the university’s cinema arts department to film a music video to promote her single.
In March, Khouri and Monea will both perform at the Pioneer Records CD release party at The Club at Stage AE.
