The Bakaz Men

A few short years ago, The Bakaz Men were just two new students at the Academy staring at a world of possibilities. Jacques Duval was an interior design student, and Shorne Callahan was working toward a career in animation. Soon, however, the duo would learn that fate had something different in store for them.

Shorne and Jacques both had musical experience in the past. Shorne having played the drums in his uncle's church and Jacques coming from a family of talented piano players, but neither had considered it as a professional career until their time at the Academy. The Academy is a place where all manner of creative programs come together, and it wasn't long before the two found their way to the Recording Arts program.

Thanks to an intensive all-around education, strong mentorship in and out of the classroom, and their overall commitment and entrepreneurial spirit, the talented pair's work has paid off before even finishing school. When opportunity knocked, the Bakaz Men had already found their way into radio rotation. This past year, they took their production to another level, signing a production contract with one of Tampa's largest churches. Under their new agreement, the Bakaz Men will produce several albums for the church—the mere beginnings of a promising career.

Shorne says he wouldn't have anything on the radio if it weren't for the Academy. Not only has the Academy taught him the necessary recording, producing and compositional skills, but it was an Academy instructor who also works as a radio DJ that first put Shorne's Hata Blockers Remix song on the airwaves.

"Whether in or out of the classroom, instructors obviously want to help us make it in the business. I've had an instructor really take me under his wings and mentor me. He's helped show me the good and bad in the industry."

It is thanks to this kind of involvement on the part of his instructors that Shorne has already had so much real-world industry experience. In addition to getting one of his songs on the radio, Shorne was also part of a group of Academy Recording Arts students who worked to develop a singer—who also happens to be a student at the Academy—who is now about to get signed with a record company.

"This singer was great, but he needed some help to get to the next level," Shorne explains. "We have worked with him for six months or so, helping develop him, giving him beats he can write to and other things. It's cool to actually be a part of this process rather than just reading about it or having someone tell us how to do it."