Commercial music students at Samford University’s School of the Arts are taking their music beyond the classroom, transforming song ideas into fully produced tracks now streaming on major platforms. While the recent releases span a range of styles and genres, students say the true story lies in the hands-on, behind-the-scenes work required to turn inspiration into a finished product.
For many students, songwriting begins in everyday moments. “When I first started writing, I would write just to write,” said Jack Lepere, a senior commercial music major who performs under the name Peair. “Now it’s more than crafting a story—it’s figuring out where that story can go.”
Lepere said his creative process often starts with something simple. “I like to begin with a central theme or even just a song title,” he said. “Sometimes it’s something I notice while driving. Those everyday moments turn into songs.”
Once a song is written, students move into the recording studio, where they produce their tracks independently or collaborate with classmates, friends or faculty mentors. The process gives students experience as producers and engineers in addition to performing.
Recording the song is only the beginning. After production, students take on the role of record labels for their own work — designing cover art, filming promotional videos, tracking audience analytics and developing release strategies. They schedule distribution, manage social media campaigns and learn how timing and promotion affect a song’s reach.
You can release a great song, but if nobody knows about it, nobody’s going to hear it,” said Shepherd Skellie, a sophmore commercial music major. “Promotion ends up being one of the hardest parts.
Although releases are not tied directly to course requirements, students say faculty play a key mentoring role, helping them navigate the realities of independent music creation. “We encourage students to create music, provide them access to two studios, and teach songwriting, recording techniques, audio engineering skills and insights into the music business so they can release their own work,” said Theo Metz, assistant professor of commercial music. “While we naturally offer guidance and support along the way, the responsibility of releasing music ultimately rests with the students as part of their training to become independent artists. Nearly all songs involve some collaboration with peers, whether through performance, mixing, critiques or simple encouragement. There is a strong sense of community among the students, and rather than competing with one another, they consistently support and elevate each other.”
Students say the experience pushes them to think like professionals now, not years down the road. “They don’t just help you make music—they prepare you for what happens after college,” Skellie said. “They treat us like artists, not just students.”
From the first creative spark to the final upload, these independent releases highlight how Samford commercial music students gain real-world experience at every stage of the music-making process —learning not only how to create songs, but how to sustain creative careers beyond the classroom. That hands-on approach reflects Samford University’s national recognition, ranked by The Wall Street Journal as #3 in career preparation and #7 in student learning opportunities, showcasing the university’s commitment to hands-on, career-ready education.
Listen to student releases from the fall 2025 semester:
WHATS YOUR NAME? by Shepherd Skellie
Oxygen by Shades of Rush
UNC by Peair
Your Kitchen by Via Vicary
