Born To Run: Trial, Error, and Triumph
When we create art, be it painting, music, writing, or any other form of expression, the most natural source of inspiration is to pull from our roots. Many pull from their childhood, their past experiences, or, in Blue Hawk’s case, from the artists that inspired us. When BHR was reimagining Born to Run for it’s 50th anniversary, the sound of the music wasn’t the only way that our crew immersed themselves in the album. Springsteen’s creation, and the process behind that creation, truly inspired every aspect of the creative process for Blue Hawk Records’ newest release.
The creation of Springsteen’s Born to Run is infamous for its tortured creation, grueling hours, and perfectionism that nearly drove every performer insane, but the product that came out of it was certainly worth it. The album was a make-or-break moment for Springsteen, with him saying in an article for Rolling Stone, “We were considered not a success at that particular moment, and so Born to Run was pretty critical- we were hoping to get some attention and make a dent”. Because of this mentality, the band went to extremes to make this album happen, with long hours in the studio and several retakes so high that any musician would feel pushed to their limit. It paid off, however, and the rest, as they say, is history.
About the album, Springsteen said, “So part of it was, I was afraid of releasing the album and just saying, ‘Well, this is who I am,’ for all the obvious reasons that people are afraid of the exposure and putting themselves out there: This is who I am, this is everything I know, this is my best, this is the best I can do right now.”
The Blue Hawk Records team took this sentiment into account while not exhausting themselves to the brink of insanity, of course. While this album isn’t a make-or-break moment for the team, it is a moment of reinvention, rediscovery, nostalgia, and self-discovery.
Recording this album was full of trial and error for the team, as it was many of the performer’s first time stepping into a recording studio. Taylor Wichterman, a rising sophomore, said of her experience, “I’ve never stepped into a recording studio in my life, so recording such an iconic song was surreal. I learned so much from my peers and the process in general. Fun fact- after recording my part I found out I was actually supposed to hear myself in my headphones while I was recording!” Michael Anthony Rocks also reflected on the trial and error of bringing his track to life by saying, “There were several instances of trial and error throughout the song recreation process that ultimately allowed the song to develop into the update that the song is.”
I am also featured on the album as a performer on “Backstreets”, and I can confirm that while the recording process wasn’t easy, it certainly gave me a new appreciation for artists like Springsteen who live and breathe in the studio. The studio can be a tough environment, and while I imagine the recording of the original album was much harder than our bumps in the road, it’s truly a magical thing when a session produces a final cut without thinking it would happen. We truly embraced Springsteen’s mentality of “This is who I am, this is everything I know” into our work.
Our team embraced the hardships of being in a studio with collaborators, and just like the original album, the passion brought to it shows in the final product. Each of our performers has a deep connection to Springsteen, both from their childhoods and due in part to our campus’ connection with Asbury Park (where the album was re-recorded), so these elements seep into the product with a passion for the source material. We’ve truly created a love letter to Springsteen, Asbury Park, and all the music that has come before us. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed every bump in the road.