Many Tufts students, alumni and parents believe that the liberal arts education offered here can help to propel students into the world of art and entertainment. Between the courses offered, and the wide range of extracurricular activities and real-world opportunities available, Jumbos have a unique opportunity to explore various pursuits and talents, as well as to learn from others with similar interests.
Alexi Paraschos (LA '09) is a testament to this. Paraschos is currently working as a solo artist in Boston. A founding member of Tufts' all-male a cappella group, S-Factor, Paraschos is a singer and educator whose music explores a blend of pop and soul; it is an homage to older styles like Motown and a welcome addition to the contemporary soul genre.
According to his website, Paraschos' "music ... not only sounds good, but feels good." The musician brings enthusiasm to his songs, allowing listeners to appreciate a style that is perhaps less prevalent today, but nonetheless has a timeless appeal. Paraschos writes about his passions: about love, social change and the courage and creativity of youth. He has worked as an educator in a number of schools in the Boston area and as a choral director, guiding his students towards their own musical dreams. Recently, Paraschos talked to the Daily about his enthusiasm for teaching, his love of music and his budding solo career.
S-Factor roots
In his sophomore year at Tufts, Paraschos teamed up with some friends to help start S-Factor.
"It was kind of hard to believe I was one of those guys ... who came home [from college] and said, 'I started an a cappella group at my school,'" Paraschos said.
For Paraschos, S-Factor's founding was particularly notable. With its repertoire of music from the African diaspora, S-Factor introduced a new kind of sound to the Tufts music scene. S-Factor vocalists specialize in hip-hop, spirituals, gospel and Paraschos' own concentration, soul.
Today, African music is still an important part of what makes S-Factor tick. According to freshman Jinhyun Shin, a current member of S-Factor, this type of music is also charged with emotional depth.
"We find the roots of African music, and that brings us closer together," he said. "African music has [a] kind of [special] sound."
This sense of community, however, is not limited to the members of the group. Shin notes that the songs themselves often create an inclusive musical atomsphere for the audience, as well.
"It provides a fun and unique experience for people who watch our shows and participate," Shin said of S-Factor's sound.
"[When] we sing gospels or hymns, people can feel our hard work and brotherhood, he added. "Our goal [is for] our audiences [to] feel moved and united by the roots of our music."
Bringing back the human touch
The emotional element of S-Factor's music is not just something that Paraschos helped to create while he was a student at Tufts, but also something he has incorporated into his career. Seeking to bring back the emotional range that drew him to soul music in the beginning, Paraschos takes issue with today's popular music.
"I think that, in general, [the] music that we listen to today, especially the mainstream stuff ... lacks any type of meaning, any type of bigger purpose," Paraschos said.
Despite this problem, he remains optimistic. Paraschos trusts that social media can re-focus public attention on artists making music for what he believes to be the right reasons. Paraschos sees sites like YouTube and Facebook playing integral roles in the careers of undiscovered artists who might not otherwise have a chance to share their work.
"Obviously, there are a lot of independent musicians and artists, and with Facebook and social media [in general], it becomes a lot easier to find people doing really great stuff," Paraschos said. "I'm trying to do that, trying to bring back that kind of music."
He credits Motown, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye for releasing high quality pop music "with a lot of significance behind it."12
