For the first time, Norco Music is releasing an album based on one semester’s body of work. Worth the Weight is a 16-song album recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered by Music Industry Studies professor Brady Kerr. The original music recorded was composed and performed by Norco College students in the Music Industry Studies program.

Sisyphus inspired the album's title. Sisyphus was a Greek king famous for his cunning behavior. He was so clever that he managed to cheat death itself and live a longer life than the gods had intended. This later backfired: his actions angered the gods, and when he finally died, he was forced to suffer eternal punishment. Sisyphus was forced to roll a giant boulder up a hill in Tartarus. However, whenever he reached the top, the boulder would roll back down to the ground, and he would have to begin again. Was it worth the weight?

College students often deal with anxiety, depression, and stress. Like Sisyphus, some students are pushing a tremendous amount of weight. Professor Kerr has witnessed this among his students in the Music Industry Studies program at Norco College. Many students find it difficult to function when faced with these challenges. Kerr intended to correlate the consistent, heavy weight placed on students with Sisyphus’ eternal punishment, giving them something significant to focus on and collaborate with others, something that would be worth the weight.

Student artists shared their testimony working on the project:

Bobby Rigo, “Being on Worth the Weight is such an honor. It’s a privilege to have my music be accepted, let alone considered, for the album. I’m in wonderful company on this project, surrounded by so many talented musicians. I’m grateful for Norco Music, a group of people who have unlocked so many doors for me, especially musically. This album is so varied and I’m proud to have my own little street in the neighborhood of "Worth the Weight.”

Marty Sanchez, “I love sharing my music with a mass audience at Norco College and beyond! I can’t wait to hear what people think of the new album and my song!”

Adrian Calderon, “It’s an honor to be a part of this record, and to go down in Norco Music history as one of the four people to introduce Spanish music to NOMU.”

Worth the Weight is, in fact, Norco Music’s first album with Spanish songs. Not just one, but two tracks in Spanish. This is just another example of the rich diversity Norco College and Norco Music have.

The album will be available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. It will also be available on www.norcomusic.com. Stream, download, and buy your copy of Worth the Weight today.

Release party details coming soon.

 

Media Contacts

Brady Kerr
Assistant Professor CTE, Music Industry Studies
Send Email
(951) 372-7197

Leslie Vargas
Public Affairs Officer, Norco College
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(951) 204-5999