by Jazmine Ponce
Staff Writer
Life is a journey, and in pursing his dream of becoming a music writer, senior communications major Brian Krug has traveled far.
Making his dream a reality has required Krug to create a demo tape which includes four songs that he has written and produced with the help of his partner Amanda Ramsey. He plans to send the tape to record producers and labels.
“I’m really happy with the way it is coming together. I’m really excited to get it out,” said Krug.
Krug was raised in Carmel, Ind., before moving to Arizona, then back to Carmel for his senior year of high school.
Music has always been a part of his life, and it is no wonder that his role model, musician and songwriter Babyface, has his hometown 15 minutes away from where Krug was born.
“I definitely think he is one of the best writers today. I respect his work a lot,” said Krug.
Writing since the age of 10, Krug did not think of pursing his hobby as a career until he came to the University of La Verne.
“One of my ex-roommates, Ron Daniels, is the one who really convinced me to go out there and pursue it,” said Krug.
His mother has also been an inspiration and role model who has encouraged him.
“I’ve been really close to her for as long as I can remember. She has taught me a lot of the values that I hold strong today. She is really my best friend and always has been,” said Krug.
He said the best advice from his mother would be a passage from a poem titled “Journey.” The end of the poem says, “Life is a journey, not a destination and to enjoy that journey.”
Krug said his mother recites that verse to him when she sees him struggling and not exactly in a place he wants to be.
“I have always been very focused and when I go after things I want to have them. She always tells me to enjoy the journey, because that is what life is all about.”
Krug’s interest in becoming a songwriter sprung from the emotions and feelings that music provides for him.
“Just hearing good music and songs and the way people react to them made me want to bring those types of emotions to people. I wanted them to react that way to my music. That is what inspires me to go out there and make a career of it,” Krug said.
“The biggest honor for me would be to have Babyface perform one of my songs or Boyz II Men. Babyface would be even more of an accomplishment because he is such a talented writer himself. To have him perform one of my songs would be amazing,” said Krug.
Aside from music one of Krug’s pastimes is basketball. He was a member of the University of La Verne’s basketball team his freshman year, but he quit to concentrate on his music.
Krug notes that the inspirational basketball movie “Hoosiers” is his favorite and he loves to read “Hoop Dreams,” a book based on the 1994 award-winning documentary film.
In the future, Krug hopes to pursue his music and acquire a publishing deal or write for television sitcoms.
Along with his demo, Krug is planning a wedding with his fiancée, ULV alumna Julieta Ramirez. They will marry Feb. 26, 2000.
His fondest memory of ULV is when he proposed to his fiancée last year in Mainiero Square.
“I have a lot of journeys and goals in my life. I guess getting to those goals and accomplishing them is what my life is,” said Krug.
