Bringing Hip-hop to Denver teens
By Frank DAngeli
Courtesy of Oren Bregman, Mobile Studio
Oren Bregman’s confidence can be felt through the phone. His charisma and laid-back energy create an air of familiarity, almost like we’ve spoken before (we have not). While I record our call on my ancient microphone and bootlegged audio software, our conversation flows smoothly from music, to life, and back. Bregman has reason enough to be self-assured. Since his teenage years, he’s been making significant achievements in the world of hip-hop, signing to Detroit-based label Traxside at 19. His band Coast to Ghost, long buzzing in the Denver area, is headed to Detroit this fall to record their second album. Bregman lives and breathes music, and more recently, he’s found a way to bring his passion to youths in the Denver area.
Mobile Studio, a nonprofit organization founded, owned, and operated by Bregman, has been making a concertedeffort to give teens access to the world of music production. The concept is fairly straightforward – Bregman drives a large van, full of instruments, microphones, and computers to meet kids where they are, and Bregman teaches those kids about almost any musical concept they’re interested in. This includes lyricism, vocalization, instrumentation, and recording. Participants are given opportunities to perform their music live or release their songs on streaming platforms, and many branch out from the program to make music on their own.
Bregman came up with the idea for Mobile Studio through unrelated nonprofit work in Northeast Denver schools. “Some of the kids we worked with out there were tremendously talented,” Bregman said. “I thought, ‘Wow, what a shame that they really don’t have musical resources or access to a studio. Someone should really be bringing the studio to them.’”
With years of experience in hip-hop production, Mobile Studio seemed like a no-brainer for Bregman.
According to Bregman, the cost barrier to music production is real, with many projects requiring a computer, microphone, and expensive software to get started. But in Bregman’s experience, this is the kind of music through which kids prefer to express themselves.
“Being able to make music, specifically hip-hop and rap is so refreshing to them,” Bregman said. “They don’t want to play the trombone, they want to do this.”
According to Bregman, outside of the cost of equipment, hip-hop can be an easily accessible art form.“You don’t need classical training, you don’t need a grand piano or a teacher,” Bregman said. “If you know how to count the beat, you can teach yourself.”
He also noted how hip-hop, a historically Black art form, can be an empowering form of self-expression for the teens he works with, many of whom are Black or Latino.
Bregman recalled being moved by a song that one of his pupils wrote about the Black Lives Matter movement,calling this a “magical” moment to witness.
According to Bregman, the genre itself innately draws passion and truth from its creators. It gives students an outlet to speak out loud on things that are personal to them — to let their voices be heard through an exciting musical platform. He also said that hip-hop’s historically supportive culture allows this free expression in a tolerant environment.
Bregman said his favorite part of the job is witnessing the kids he works with discover their passions for music. “For me, [a milestone] is the first time somebody creates their own song and hears it and thinks, ‘Wow, that’s me,’” Bregman said.
He works to foster the creativity, leadership, and communication that students find through collaboration with one another.
“Over time, you just see their confidence grow: They know how to record, they know how to make music collaboratively, [which is] really impressive,” he said.
According to Bregman, when it comes to the future of Mobile Studio, he is thinking big: “Getting more equipment, going to more schools, maybe we’ll get another vehicle.”
As the long-time sole employee, he’s also looking to bring more staff aboard. “It starts with growing our capacity,” StoryBregman said. “I’ve been doing this myself for a couple years now, and although it’s been really successful, [hiring] would be the next step.”
Mobile Studio is currently in the process of revamping its website and social media profiles, and Bregman said he plans to capitalize on the momentum that Mobile Studio has generated so far.
“Who knows? Maybe one day you’ll see Mobile Studio all over the country.”
To learn more about Mobile Studio, donate to the organization, or find out about upcoming events, visit https://mobile-studio-inc.org.