In his new role as president, the sophomore says he hopes to increase campus engagement with Limelight and create a creative environment for musicians.
Jacob Laxton ’25 started making music during his sophomore year of high school to express and confront his emotions. And his passion quickly landed him in the music production studio of his high school.
Four years later, he is the newly elected president of Limelight Productions, Elon University’s student-run record label for up-and-coming student musicians.
Laxton, a music production major with a marketing and analytics minor, auditioned for Limelight as soon as he arrived on Elon’s campus in 2021. He was initially signed as an artist and eventually transitioned from vice president of production to vice president and now to president.
“I love Limelight,” Laxton said. “It has been crucial in my growth at Elon. The people I have met in this label will be my lifelong friends. It is very rewarding to be a part of an organization that facilitates such a supportive and encouraging environment.”
Laxton faced a learning curve as vice president of production. Managing music production differed from making his own music, and he had to learn how to “steer the ship.”
In the role, he learned how to gain respect in the boardroom, deal with conflict, and compromise. He credits the previous president, Veda Skog ‘23, for modeling effective leadership and his professors for pushing him to improve musically and academically.
Clay Stevenson, a senior lecturer in music, witnessed Laxton’s musical talents and leadership skills in the classroom and is confident of the positive change he will bring to Limelight.
“Jacob has been an active member of Limelight since arriving at Elon,” Stevenson said. “His background as a self-published music creator and producer provides him with intimate knowledge of many aspects of the music industry. He’s a person who engages well with both creatives and business-minded individuals, positioning him for success as the next leader of the organization.”
This semester, Laxton is responsible for managing the dates and details of the compilation CD that was released this spring. It is available for purchase at Oak House, Keith’s CDs and Tapes in Burlington, or by messaging Limelight Records on Instagram.
Although he is busy with the tasks of vice president, he still performs and produces his own music as often as he can. Laxton said he makes indie pop, dreamy music with hip-hop and R&B influences, mixing different genres into his own unique sound.
He plans to increase campus engagement with Limelight through live events and expand the organization’s marketing and PR efforts. He said he hopes to get more artists on streaming platforms and to produce new physical products.
“Music connects people,” Laxton said. “I have already found joy in creating a creative environment for musicians with my previous positions at Limelight, and I will continue to do this as president. I intend to focus on this sense of community and to push the organization forward, creating a healthy and safe organization that supports creatives and artists alike.”