What do music and sociology have in common?
It turns out that music and sociology have a lot in common. Or at least, that's the message others need to hear according to Kami Van Halst, who graduated from the University of Alberta this past summer with a double major in sociology and music. This week, Kami talked to students in Dr. Paul Joosse's sociology of deviance class and performed one of her own songs. In her opening remarks, Kami noted that her interest in linking music to issues around social justice was inspired by a sociology course on youth, crime and society she took at the University of Alberta and her work with the Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS) in Edmonton. Now she has been signed to a two-year record deal with Universal Music Group and is looking forward to a successful career in the music industry. She hopes that her efforts to link music and sociology will lead the way for others to follow.
And Kami is not the only musician with ties to the sociology department. Dr. Paul Joosse, pictured here with Kami Van Halst, is a member of the band Souljah Fyah, an awarding winning reggae band. Paul is also a recent graduate of the University of Alberta with a PhD in sociology. He currently holds a Teaching Postdoctoral Fellowship in Surveillance and Criminology. As he looks to find a permanent job as an academic, he plans to keep pursuing his music dreams as well. The band also focuses on social justice issues and family violence. According to Paul, that is one reason why he wants to keep his music going. "As much as it is about having fun and creating a good beat" Paul notes, "it is also about bringing awareness to important issues in our society."
