“POP425,” a CD compilation of original songs by 14 local teen bands will debut Saturday, April 25 (aka 4/25) at the Old Fire House (OFH) Teen Center’s 2009 Punk Rock Prom. The prom begins at 6:30 p.m. at 16510 NE 79th St. Admission is $8 and includes a copy of the CD, refreshments, photos and fortune-telling. Singles, couples or groups are invited and encouraged to dress up.

The evening will include performances by many of the “POP425” artists — Universal Soul, The Raindrops, Seahouse, APOC, DJ Fuke, Save Kate, Masters and Johnson, Temple Vibe, Generifus, Jeff Stillwell (Deer City) and Whitney Ballen.

Singer/songwriter Ballen produced “POP425” for her Culminating Project. She attends Redmond High School and also has taken Running Start classes at Lake Washington Technical College and Bellevue Community College.

A regular at the OFH since junior high, Ballen has performed there and at the Kirkland Teen Union Building (KTUB) many times. Thus, the CD project was a natural choice for her.

“I didn’t want to dread my senior project, I wanted it to be something that would help me in the future,” said Ballen. “I’m very into the arts in general. I’d like to study visual communications, maybe minor in music or music journalism. In my group of friends, almost every single one has been in a band. I’ve surrounded myself with people in music, networking with them, going to shows. Most are from the Eastside, the 425 area code, so that’s how I got the idea for ‘POP425.'”

The CD was recorded in the OFH Media Lab, utilizing the expertise of media lab coordinator Amanda Barron.

Ballen has also turned the “POP425” project into an educational experience by securing donations of food for the Punk Rock Prom and services such as mastering, duplicating and packaging the CDs.

Whole Foods Market is providing a cooking class where OFH volunteers will learn to make hors’ d’oeuvres. Other in-kind donations are from RFI, Paragon Media and Stumptown Press.

Ballen said she’s proud of the variety of musical styles on “POP425,” from rap and hip-hop to punk rock, electronica and acoustic selections.

“All the bands here are like a family. They’re so diverse, but all the genres flow together really nicely. I’m hoping this will be the ultimate summer CD,” she commented.

Rana Shmait, program assistant at the OFH, said the teen center staff has always encouraged community service from its regular attendees. “If you spend time here, you should be giving something back,” kids are told. And so teens like Ballen and her musical friends have pitched in to teach arts and crafts, organize lectures or serve on leadership boards.

They’ll also promote the Punk Rock Prom and “POP425” at the junior high schools, offering live previews and jam sessions, “to inspire them to take a class here at the Fire House,” said Ballen. “A lot of them don’t get the opportunity to play professional equipment in a nice environment like this. The Fire House has become a second home to me.”

For more information about “POP425” or the Punk Rock Prom, call (425) 556-2371 or e-mail rshmait@redmond.gov.