The Voice - Special Edition: High School Nation

Music, art showcase delights enthusiastic crowd

BRIANNA BILLARD

Azalea Miller Features Editor

HIGH SCHOOL NATION

Trevor Jackson performs for enthusiastic fans at the High School Nation concert. Everett was one of only 20 schools where High School Nation performed on its fall tour.

Below: Junior Takiya Crawford watches as Trevor Jackson performs. “The atmosphere was exciting,” said Crawford.

High School Nation was once a program that gave high school students a chance to perform for free at school lunches across the country. Since 2004, High School Nation has expanded to full concerts throughout the US, adding artists and many other arts-related activities. Alumni artists that have been through High school Nation include; Cody Simpson, New Boyz and Wale.

“We went on tour with the guy that started High School Nation, and they (asked us to join the tour). It’s such a great cause when you can keep arts in schools,” said Ren Patrick from STAMPS The Band.

Bringing the message that the arts in school are important is the mission of High School Nation. At every stop, the tour hosts a community conversation broadcast live on YouTube. At Everett, the panel included drama teacher Jim Allen and members of Lansing’s arts community.

The tour is also a chance for your artists to get exposure in front of thousands of students throughout the country.

“Five years ago I’d never thought I’d be here, but two years ago I knew I would be because I didn’t give up,” said singer Justine Skye. “I’m glad I kept going.” Skye, who joined the tour this year, just graduated from high school in 2013.

HS Nation gives students a chance to perform and get their name out in the process.

But being away from home and touring can take an emotional toll on some artists.

“In the past few months we went all over Europe...the tour is great, but sometimes you get really exhausted and it’s hard being away from home. I have a 10-year-old sister and I miss her a lot,” said Patrick.

Skye agreed that the tour can be tiring.

“This is my first tour and I’m just a little homesick. I do miss my friends,” said Skye.

“Trev, Michael and Nathan (Trevor Jackson and his backup dancers) are good friends and I’m still adjusting to it all.”

When the artists aren’t on the road touring, they enjoy the same things as any other student would.

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“I’m passionate about a lot of things like basketball, surfing and skateboarding,” said artist Trevor Jackson, who is a high school senior.

Doing anything you are passionate about takes inspiration. For Skye it’s her fans.

“Fans definitely inspire me, I love music and I love giving hope to them so they can do what I do,” said Skye.

“The best part of the performance is the reaction from the fans, but it does make me nervous when the crowd doesn’t get interactive, but you gotta’ keep pushin’.”

The inspiration these artists hope to instill in students came to them at a young age.

“Ever since I saw Michael Jackson when I was young, I loved music,” said Jackson.

For Stamps, music is a way to deal with the stress of life.

“I get through tough times by writing music... (drummer) Adam James and I write all of the music.

When I wake up, I eat and breathe music. Music is my life essentially,” said Patrick.

Some of the artists’ parents travel with the tour, and are as excited to be a part of the show as their children.

“The best part is watching the kids performing and the crowd’s reaction,” said John Maas, father of backup dancer Nathan Maas. “I have no fears on the road, he [Nathan] knows how to do it and he’s usually the one to keep them all focused.”

“There is no secret advice,” said Patrick. “You have to have tough skin.

Don’t give up music is supposed to be fun, it’s not supposed to be a job.”

Jackson echoed Patrick, that the life of an artist isn’t for those who only see it as a simple job.

“Don’t do it because of the money or fame... do it because it’s what you love and because you want to work hard at it,” said Jackson. “And, always put God first.”

And yes, to all the ladies...Trevor Jackson is single.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Students surround Trevor Jackson on stage during the High School Nation tour.

Jackson taught the crowd how to do his new dance, and invited students up front to perform with him.

HIGH SCHOOL NATION

Rob Shore of STAMPS rocks out for an appreciative crowd at High School Nation. STAMPS played a mix of original songs and covers, then hung out afterwards to visit with their new fans.

Davielle Collins practices playing the drums at the percussion tent during High School Nation.

Students could also play guitars, keyboards, and practice making beats.

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Nique Wilson, dancing

Ren Patrick, sharing

Chelsea Patterson, screaming

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Ren Patrick of STAMPS kicks off the High School Nation concert. Later, when the crowd wasn’t jumping well enough to their music, she came down into the crowd and jumped with them.

Trevor Jackson, chilling

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HIGH SCHOOL NATION

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[FIVEQUOTES•ONEQUESTION] PHOTOS BY THALIA ESPARZA

What was your favorite thing about High School Nation?

HIGH SCHOOL NATION

High School Nation Rocks Everett crowd Michael Love, one of Trevor Jackson’s backup dancers, joins Jackson on stage to help pump up the crowd.

Freshman Michael Lopez

Justine Skye performs for an energetic High School Nation crowd. You can purchase Skye’s new album Everyday Living on iTunes.

“I liked the music and also that we got to get out of class.”

Senior De’lisha Burse

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“I liked the performers.

I liked Trevor Jackson and the band STAMPS.”

Junior Eunny Yue “I was excited to play guitar, it was a new experience for me.”

Senior Chelsea Brown “It was really great and fun. They had good performances.”

M

any students walked into school on Monday expecting it to be a normal day.

As the day went on, they realized that was not the case, as talk of High School Nation filled the school.

High School Nation is a group of people that travel from state to state to keep music programs alive in high schools. Past High School Nations tours “It was a great have donated as much as $10,000 experience and to music prosomething that grams to help keep the prodoesn’t happen grams running. very often at This year’s tour had many Everett.” different attrac-senior Anissa tions, such as the John LenDawsey. non tour bus, picture booths, face painting, three performances and much more. Students said they really enjoyed HSN as they “It helps kids to experience different went from station to station listening to things with music and art, it’s a way to give different bands, playing instruments and back to students and show them new extouring the John Lennon bus. periences,” said production manager Jus“It was a great experience and some- tin McDonnell. thing that doesn’t happen very often at Music is important to the members of Everett,” said senior Anissa Dawsey.

HSN, and they all expressed their exciteAll the workers that make HSN pos- ment to be able to keep the arts alive. sible said they love being able to get kids “It’s a great opportunity for us to help involved in the arts. support the music and art programs in

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Sophomore Aaliyah Foreman

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“There were a lot of activities and fun things to do.”

high schools and have fun while doing it,” said production crew member Lindsey Vogel.

Students said they appreciated High School Nation and all they stand for.

“It allows aspiring artists to work on their work and people to try something new, and the performers were great,” said Dawsey.