*This is not a review. This is telling it like it is, a college musician writing about other musicians, in college.

The species of young collegiate musicians—creating music from their dorm room, trying to moonlight-market themselves gig-to-gig in between term papers and midterm stress—is struggling and needs your help.

I am a college student. I am also a seasoned musician, after playing in seven bands, three session projects and producing four albums out of a basement and in studios around the east coast. Needless to say, I know the feeling of a student struggling to make it in the music industry without failing a morning class because of your midnight gig the night before.

There are many like me who can emphasize with that overpowering love for music but also the overwhelming sensation of “oh shit, I have a twenty-page history paper due tomorrow”-edness that every student feels at least once or twice. I have the utmost respect for musicians that work day jobs, whether it be in a white shirt and black tie or in an apron behind a counter serving latte’s.

With nondescript terms like “up-and-coming,” “under-the-radar” and “emerging artist” thrown around these days like sacks of ignored demo tapes, the potency of the college rock strain is reaching a turning point in the devolution of the learned scholar-independent musician. Festival scenarios are the best of times and the worst of times for a college band to “have a shot” at “being discovered.”

As October begins I will choose a college rock band of the week to give some love, a piece of the limelight that they so deserve. This week’s pick is Liberty Zoo, a funk-fresh quintet’s take on rap-rock based out of Columbia, NY. Their first song “My Life” features their eclectic clusterf*** of synth, tap dancing and riffing that you really need to check out. The video alone should have you hooked, regardless of whether it has 200 views or if you absolutely hate the sound of shoes against a tap board.

In an interview with frontwoman and dance major of the band Liberty Styles, I asked her to describe LZ’s sound:

“I would describe it as funk-style hip-hop with some roots in afrobeat and pop,” said Styles. “Each band member has a very different musical background which makes our sound pretty unique. It's always music that people dance to.”

With her in the LZ collective is rapper June “Jonah” Apollo, flautist and keyboardist Maurice Marion, guitarist and bassist Sam Klein-Markman and drummer John Lander.

The group has already made some headway with their tie-dye fusion of hip hop and space funk, opening up for Big Sean at the Columbia Bacchanal Festival in April, headlining the a show at the local Knitting Factory in June and playing a set at the Palisades this past month.

“We'll also be releasing an EP of five songs within the next two months that we would love it if you gave it a shot.” libertyzoo.bandcamp.com)”

"Our sound is fresh and unusual," Styles adds. "As a dancer and musician, I try to make music that makes me move. Our music comes out of improvisation and thrives on the ebbs and flows of the various instruments and vocal loops. It's very rhythmic and meant to be danced to!"

To be a student in conjunction with this mentality of work-to-live is a tough life, and yet, some musicians are managing to dust themselves off time and time again to finish their degrees in between time at studio and time at the library.

In the attempt to better my breed of erudite EP-producing comrades, I implore you to spend a night at an open-mic so you can support your local musician. We need you to tell us whether we suck or not—not like it matters—and if we stick it out in school we can make it big with something to fall back on if all else fails.

Support your local musician—you might just put them through school.