December 11, 2024
Meghan O'Toole
Nicolas Rubio '25 releases original EP and music videos
Nicolas Rubio '25 completed his schooling in Chile and was just starting law school when he decided to pivot entirely and move to Lake Forest, Illinois to pursue music at the College.
Rubio's relationship with music is rooted in creative expression. He prefers a non-traditional approach to his craft. At Lake Forest College, the best path for Rubio turned out to be through a self-designed major in music production and sound video filming.
- Rubio's self-designed major is allowing him to shift his focus to his music career.
- In addition to releasing an EP, Rubio has also been working on music videos.
- Rubio's faculty mentor, Don Meyer, has helped him make new connections and find confidence.
A self-designed path
“I needed the freedom to do what would serve my music career, but I still needed structure to approach my studies. I learn best by doing, and this independent study let me do that,” Rubio explained. “I had to intentionally shift my relationship with music from thinking of it as a hobby to thinking of it as my work and my studies.”
Rubio creates music under the pseudonym CONOSUR, which is a play on the nickname for the region occupied by Chile and Argentina known as the “Cone (cono) of the South (sur).”
The self-designed approach, which is guided by Associate Dean of the Faculty for Student Success, Professor of Music, and Co-Chair of Self-Designed Major Donald Meyer, has enabled Rubio to bring intense focus and accelerated learning to his music.
Collaborating with professionals
Through the course of his undergraduate studies at Lake Forest College, Rubio wrote and produced an EP of five songs. This semester, he has been working on creative music videos with a team of video professionals in Chile.
“The team I worked with to create these videos was incredible,” Rubio said. “This was my first time doing something like this, especially with such a big production, but they directed me and helped me through it.” Rubio will continue to work with the same director on future videos.
Part of Rubio's self-designed major includes learning how to network and promote his own work as a musician, which he has found challenges his shy nature. The EP, WAITING ROOM, has given him many opportunities to collaborate with industry professionals.
Rubio chose Lake Forest College for the generous financial aid and small class sizes. However, it has been Rubio's connection to Meyer that has helped him forge a path in the music industry. Meyer connected Rubio with Troy Cruz '18, who mastered the EP. Mastering is a form of audio post-production that helps create a balanced final mix of a song.
“Don Meyer is a great professor, and I would not have done any of this without him,” Rubio said. “He helped me with the paperwork, he motivated me keep pursuing this, and he never gave up on me. I really appreciate that he stuck with me.”