Musician mixes business major with pleasure

By Dianna Francisco

For many students at Raritan Valley Community College, juggling school and work is a way of life. If you throw a hobby or two into the mix, you’ve got a pretty hectic schedule. Sometimes it may even seem as though you’re trying to live a double life.

Noam Hassid, a 20-year-old from Bridgewater majoring in Business Administration, Management Information Systems, is no exception. Between working at Wegman’s and pursuing his degree here at Raritan Valley Community College, he finds time for creative expression and an outlet for his stress. Hassid is the guitarist in the local band Made in China. And although they are hoping for a big break in the music industry, Hassid is still planning more realistically for his future.

“Music is not first yet; we can’t stunt the growth of our education, and we’ve had to find a medium.” Hassid says of his band.

He has found this medium by assessing his priorities and working hard at both school and in the band. And at the end of the day, easygoing Hassid still has his sense of humor, saying that his main objective in the band is to have fun.
He is not the only multi-tasker either. The band members range from a high school senior, to a master’s student at Seton Hall.

Hassid finds that taking nine credits and scheduling his classes around band events works great for him. He says he finds it “surprisingly easy” to manage his responsibilities, and that he would rather take a lighter courseload and get better grades.

“I understand the danger of having two important things in your life, so I do my best to compromise,” he said.

The five members of Made in China are dedicated to creating a new sound, and making a lasting impact on their listeners. Their sound is derived from the plethora of genres the band cites as their influences, among them Sum 41, Metallica and Midtown.

At a recent benefit for American Children’s Cancer Research of America at The Rail in Bound Brook, Made in China unveiled songs from their new album “Breakthrough Frequency,” which is due for release this month. The title is a testament to the goal the band has of “starting a new frequency of sound,” Hassid said. “This is our time to break out there and be heard.”

So, what kind of show can you expect to get from Made in China? It is chock full of energy and fun, a stress reliever for the band and the audience alike. With influences ranging from rock to emo, you get a great blend of both.

Manager Jeff Dameron says the group’s music has “the screaming energy of screamo, but at the same time, it’s got punk energy in it.” He says that this sound, with a little bit of pop in it, too, makes some songs “catchy as hell and stuck in your head for days.”

One of the major motivations for Made in China is “to be able to share our music with people, and be able to have people relate to it,” says Jim Morgan, the man responsible for the lyrical segments of the band’s creations. “If one person can say that a song of ours means something to them, then we have achieved something great.”

Made In China can be heard playing at Hamilton St. in Bound Brook, and will be embarking on an East Coast tour this summer, from New Jersey to Florida.
The band’s website features their latest videos, as well as dates for upcoming shows.

http://myspace.com/madeinchina