Nicole Bazos ’25 says her Elon education helped her stand out from the crowd when applying for an internship with Republic Studios in New York City. Now, she’s getting first-hand experience at one of the largest record labels in the world.
At Republic Studios in New York City, Nicole Bazos ’25 has had her fair share of celebrity sightings – even getting a chance to meet ASAP Ferg and Joe Jonas. But Bazos, a music production and recording arts major, says her internship with the record label this summer is much more than a celebrity meet-and-greet. It’s been an immersive hands-on experience that has allowed her to put into practice much of what she’s already learned at Elon.
“Often people think being in a studio is glamorous, being near all of these high-profile clients, but once you’re actually here, it’s a lot of work and you need to stay professional and I’ve learned a lot about that in this role,” Bazos said.
Learning the notes
Republic Studios is a section of Republic Records and the larger Universal Music Group (UMG) which hosts many big-name artists including Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Post Malone, Nicki Minaj among others. As an intern, Bazos’ responsibilities include prepping the studios for the artists, helping to plan events and getting a front row seat as UMG mixes their entire back catalog to surround sound. The label even lets interns mix their own song as part of a capstone project.
Bazos applied to about 15 different studios/record labels, including Sony and Warner Bros. so she was excited to hear back from UMG – one of the largest record labels in the world.
“Instead of just working for the studio, I get to learn about the whole Universal Music Group and other parts of the company as well,” she said.
Elon music mastery
Bazos credits Elon’s music production and recording arts program with helping her get the position by helping her develop her skillset, which stood out from other applicants.
“A lot of students don’t even know what a console is. They’re so used to working on a computer and doing everything virtually,” said Bazos. “But Elon has all the technology for mixing, which is great. So, when Republic Studios heard that I already worked with that technology, they said I was ahead of so many people.”
While at Elon, Bazos has been able to record her own projects at the studios in Arts West. She joined Thistle Ridge Band on campus and recorded their last EP she has been part of several ensembles and she is now an Elon Music Ambassador.
During her sophomore year, Bazos was the recipient of the Effie Mae Wicker Johnston music scholarship, which covered her tuition for the year. This summer, she advanced to the National Student Auditions through the National Association of Teachers of Singing, placing third in the lower commercial music tremble voice category.
“The hands-on attention from faculty at Elon and getting to know me so well, being eager to help has changed everything, because it has allowed me to learn so much more,” said Bazos. “I also love all of the classes and the program is special because most of the projects we do are real world focused.”
That hands-on attention has also been present at her internship. No matter the level of seniority, Bazos says everyone at the company is willing to help her learn and grow.
“They always say ‘you all are the future generation of the music industry, and we need to teach you guys,’” Bazos said about speaking with company leadership. “I feel comfortable asking everyone questions and everyone has been so kind. It was a good surprise.”