At GRAMMY Camp® Music Tastes As Eclectic As Campers By Julian Ring

GRAMMY Camp® is a place for people who love music. However, the term “music” is quite a general one; it contains many styles and genres within it. Along with these various forms of music come many faces and acts from all different backgrounds. The beauty of GRAMMY Camp is the diversity of not only the students who attend it, but the variety of people who inspire them to do their best.

Electronic music production student Kamari Carter cites his biggest influences as renowned DJ and producer Deadmau5. Kamari refers to an interview he saw in which Deadmau5 described his unique style. “He doesn’t like how in old house and trance music, you can tell the next eight beats, 16 beats, 32 beats. He despises that. He tries to mix up everything and he tries to make a completely new sound.”

John Bassel, who is at camp as a combo bassist, has different tastes in music. “My biggest influence would probably be John Entwistle (bass player for The Who).” According to Bassel, Rancid bassist Matt Freeman was an early inspiration, and through him, Bassel learned to play many of the greatest punk basslines by ear. “And John Entwistle influenced him, so I moved up to listening to The Who, and I started figuring out those bass parts, too.” As opposed to Kamari Carter’s taste for cutting-edge electronic music , Bassel prefers tried-and-true rock 'n’ roll. “That’s basically how I learned how to play bass,” he explains.

For combo guitarist Cody Tripp, it’s all about music from the Southern United States. “I try to be as open as I can about playing everything, but I guess my background is more in rock, blues, and country.” When citing major influences, Cody immediately lists Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines, for his “Texas swing-style playing. I also like Stevie Ray Vaughn because of how much soul he’s got.” Cody says he hopes to continue the guitar as a form of musical expression. “I’d like to try teaching, or studio work, or just playing around,” he says.

While these are only three examples, it is clear that musical tastes and influences vary among campers. From electronic beats and rhymes to rock 'n’ roll, to blues and country, GRAMMY Camp is a place for students from many musical backgrounds and with styles that range across the board.