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EMERSON LEGER: That was Perl’s new song, “Where?” that dropped on Friday. Jared Perlmutter, known by the stage name Perl, is a Medill sophomore who has been making music since elementary school, when he would DJ for his parents’ cocktail parties.
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EMERSON LEGER: From The Daily Northwestern, I’m Emerson Leger. This is Sound Source, a podcast about the music scene on campus and beyond.
Perlmutter said he is self taught, adding that “no one’s going to do it better than yourself.” Though his older brother helped him produce his music when he was younger, Perlmutter now designs, produces and writes everything himself.
JARED PERLMUTTER: I love every aspect of music. You’re not gonna be successful if you don’t love every corner of your project.
EMERSON LEGER: That passion led Perlmutter to land a record deal with AAO Records over Winter Quarter. He said the company found him through his TikTok and Instagram mini music videos.
JARED PERLMUTTER: I have that much confidence in myself. It’s really rare to get that recognition and that recognition means a lot because as someone who has been grinding their ass off, for them to want one of my songs, I felt really good.
EMERSON LEGER: A&O Productions co-chair and Weinberg senior Max Garon, helped Perlmutter review his contract. Garon said Perlmutter’s biggest asset is his dedication.
MAX GARON: I think a lot of people kind of get to college and maybe will lose track or lose sight of goals that they once had. And I think it’s super, super inspiring to see Jared really just go for it and do everything that needs to be done.
EMERSON LEGER: Perlmutter’s roommate, Weinberg sophomore Jonah Rosenberg, said that Perlmutter getting the record deal was no surprise. He said when Perlmutter released his first song, “Never Letting You Go,” two years ago, they had a party in his dorm room to celebrate. His record deal is now a full-circle moment, Rosenberg said.
JONAH ROSENBERG: It was confirming what I already had thought, which is it’s only a matter of time until these things keep piling up and he gets rewarded for a lot of the stuff that he’s doing.
EMERSON LEGER: Rosenberg said it is not only Perlmutter’s commitment, but who he is as a person that has made him successful.
JONAH ROSENBERG: He’s just such a nice person. It’s extremely rare to find a person like him. I think that he’s one of a kind.
EMERSON LEGER: Perlmutter said that he owes a lot to the people who have been there for him through all the challenges along the way, like Garon and Rosenberg.
JARED PERLMUTTER: Those kinds of people like that, who just are unconditionally supportive, even when it’s like everyone else is making fun of you, is the reason why I’m as far as I am today.
EMERSON LEGER: Now that he’s signed a record deal, Perlmutter said “big things” are coming this year. He has songs stored on his computer that he said he cannot wait to release. For now, he said he will keep putting in hard work and moving with the music.
JARED PERLMUTTER: Hopefully I listen back to this in 10 years, and I’m like, “Wow, this kid, what if he knew?”
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EMERSON LEGER: From The Daily Northwestern, I’m Emerson Leger. Thanks for listening to another episode of Sound Source. This episode was reported and produced by Emerson Leger.
The audio editor is Wallis Rogin. The multimedia managing editors are Ruby Dowling, Isabella Jacob and Matt Wasilewski. The editor in chief is Anavi Prakash.
Follow us on X and Instagram @thedailynu.
Email: [email protected]
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