On April 4, “Retro/Active,” an EP created by graduate students Gus Genova, Sam Abramson, Stephanie Tokasz and Meredith Westfield, was released on all streaming platforms. 

Genova, Abramson, Tokasz and Westfield were passionate about creating a project that could celebrate the music scene in Ithaca. 

“The ‘Retro/Active’ project is a concept compilation EP that compiles a multitude of Ithaca artists together, bringing together Ithaca community but also shedding a light on how great the Ithaca music scene is and can be,” Genova said. 

The “Retro/Active” EP is one of several projects currently being produced out of South Hill Entertainment, the production company run by IC’s entertainment and media management MBA students, which has 15 students enrolled as of Fall 2024, according to the Office of Analytics and Institutional Research. This program is geared toward students of different creative backgrounds who are interested in breaking into the world of media business. 

Tokasz said each MBA student is required to work on a year-long project through their practicum class, which is designed to give students experience in the entertainment business world. The projects are made through many types of media, which gives students the freedom to work in the field of their choice.

The “Retro/Active” EP was originally pitched to the practicum class by Genova in Fall 2024. Genova’s music-centered pitch stuck out to Abramson, who had originally wanted to manage an artist for his project. But when Genova completed his pitch, Abramson said he knew that “Retro/Active” was the project for him.

“I’ve always known I wanted to be in the music industry somehow, and so this was an extension of that passion,” Abramson said. “I love listening to new artists. That was something fun with this project, discovering new artists in Ithaca.” 

The final tracklist of the “Retro/Active” project showcases songs by past and present IC student bands: delia-h, June Felman, Microbes Mostly, Little Slicer and CARPET CRAWLER. 

Felman said that when Genova asked her if she was interested in including one of her songs on the EP, she knew this was a collection that she would want to be a part of. 

“It seemed like a really thoughtful project they were working on,” Felman said. “It was so nice that they wanted to represent current and past students and give us a platform to really solidify that into history for the college.” 

Abramson said that all of the artists featured on “Retro/Active” have their own projects, shows and releases to promote and “Retro/Active” was another way that they could reach a broader audience. 

“Something that I think is really cool about the EP is that each individual artist has their own story,” Abramson said. “This has been really cool to put out in tandem with them. We shout them out, they shout us out and we work together to break through all the noise, because there’s a lot of noise in the music industry.” 

“Retro/Active” provided a unique experience for both Delia Vaisey ’23, vocalist for delia-h, and the management team. Vaisey was the only artist on the EP that did not have the means to record on her own, so the team set up a recording session for her song “Real Estate” at Sunwood Recording in Trumansburg. 

“The most fun thing was the Sunwood recording session,” Genova said. “Even though I wasn’t the engineer, being there in that space and seeing [Delia] work in the creative space was really cool.”

While recording at Sunwood Recording, the team also created a music video for “Real Estate,” which can be found on the Retroactive YouTube channel, @Retroactiveprojecct. 

“Retro/Active” also gave CARPET CRAWLER its first opportunity to release music to streaming platforms. Abramson explained that after the release of the compilation EP, CARPET CRAWLER now had its own page on Spotify and Apple Music. 

“I’m really excited about the last song on the album, called PARKSIDE,” Abramson said. “It’s their first song on Spotify. It’s their first song anywhere. They’ve been performing in Ithaca for a while now.” 

Since the EP’s release, Abramson said he has been receiving praise from members of the Ithaca music community.

“I have been loving the reaction,” Abramson said. “They’re still coming in, which is great. Someone said to me that it achieved something that a lot of school projects don’t; the people involved enjoyed the result and people really are understanding that it’s a celebration of Ithaca music, which is what we intended from the beginning. That’s been very rewarding.” 

Despite the digital release, the “Retro/Active” team is not quite done with its project. The “Retro/Active” EP will be available on vinyl and CD by the end of April. It will be sold in partnership with Angry Mom Records and can be purchased in store in a highly limited supply. The release date will be announced on their Instagram, @retroactiveproject.

Tokasz said that no matter what kind of music someone usually gravitates toward, there is something for everyone on the EP. 

“As long as you like one song on the album then we did our job,” Tokasz said. “We showed you the music in Ithaca. Spread the word, maybe your friend will like a different song.” 

However, the team’s graduation does not have to be the end of the “Retro/Active” project. Abramson said he hopes the “Retro/Active” project can be part of his legacy at the college, as a project that could be carried on by other generations of students passionate about music. 

“This is a one-year masters program, so once I leave, I’m done,” Abramson said. “My hope and dream is that [‘Retro/Active’] is something that can continue into the future.”