Meet one of West Chester’s highly talented individuals, Mark Savage. One may already know Mark better than one initially thinks. His activities at West Chester take him from the Bull Center at the entrance of the University all the way to Farrell Stadium on South Campus – a distance that almost matches the depth of his abilities. Almost.Soon to be a West Chester alum, Savage has worn number 38 as part of the Golden Rams football team and sought to enlighten himself on issues of philosophy, civil rights and social change.
He also acts as President of West Chester’s Television Club and TV5 television station. Savage often performs in the station’s various sketch segments, designs computer graphics for the copious amounts of footage he edits and orchestrates the television studio’s activity from the control booth.
But perhaps the biggest initiative of Savage’s presidency, and very likely in all of WCU TV5’s history, is the Vision Tour, presented by both TV5 and Sykes After Dark. Slated for Friday, March 21, the Vision Tour is a concert, comedy show and fashion show that promises four hours of thorough entertainment. As Savage describes it, the tour will be a “thrilling event to promote local artists, TV club and act as a fundraiser.”
Indeed, the Vision Tour boasts an array of 15 musical and comedic performers and is designed as a charity event for victims still suffering from the fallout of Hurricane Katrina. During performances, fashion designs from local designers in Philadelphia will be showcased by a cast of models and even some of West Chester’s own along a runway near the stage. Among the many performers is also another home favorite, Back of the Bus.
In addition to the incredible ensemble of performers, the Vision Tour will also feature Savage himself in another of his many talents – this time musically. Performing under the alias DC1, Savage offers what he describes as “conscious hip hop.” Citing influences such as Busta Rhymes and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, his up-and-coming EP, titled “The New Beginning,” offers a collection of well thought out and personal tracks inspired by poetry that Savage has been developing since age 12.
With beats contributed by a blood relative of The Roots, “The New Beginning” moves from intimate to powerful with ease. The opening track, “Here We Go,” features a sharp, start-stop rhythm with cleverly counter-pointed backing vocals courtesy of Kasheera Hickson. It also blends themes of evolution and a strong personal drive for success and creativity. But it is in the following track, “Her Hips,” that the phrase ‘conscious hip hop’ truly manifests itself.
“Her Hips” is a sultry track that creates a truly seductive atmosphere without falling into the all-too-common degrading and often crude elements found in some popular rap music. In short, this music respects women and itself. Likewise, “Give My Love” paints an intimate vocal image against a seductive rhythmic backdrop, complements of the predominantly featured female vocalist, Adrienne Harris.
The album’s highlight, “Watch Me,” immediately changes the mood to one of brooding introspection.
A darker tone takes over amidst tense, vibrating bass and piercing piano strikes. But despite this, the track carries a message of overcoming and affirmation, drawing from Savage’s studies of Martin Luther King Jr. and psychology.
The final track, “Tale of a Peasant,” is almost entirely devoid of backing music. It is quite simply a verbal showcase, with DC1 spitting rhymes along to an invisible rhythm like a man possessed – or more aptly, ‘Shakespeare possessed.’ Though the track clocks in for little more than minute and a half, it displays the raw talent found in the entire album.
So whether he is directing and producing for TV5, representing the Golden Rams, or creating his own inspired music, Mark Savage is truly among West Chester’s best and brightest, making him a West Chester Spotlight Artist.
Look for the record “The New Beginning” to be released this winter and get a sample at the Vision Tour at Sykes on March 21 (tickets now available at the Sykes ticket window).
For more information about the Vision Tour, the music of DC1, or West Chester’s Television 5, Mark Savage can be reached at MS580321@WCUPA.EDU.
Gabe Antonello is a third-year student at West Chester University majoring in secondary education. He can be reached at GA614055@wcupa.edu.