Hurt - NIN (Cover by Alexa Melo)

 

 

I am blessed to live around a lot of really fantastic artists. Musicians, photographers, painters - this place is thick with them. There is no shortage of awesome in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The people struggling and hustling here are really inspirational and have made me really appreciate all those who work to make their shit real.

That said, the artist above - Alexa Melo - is from nowhere near Kenosha. But her hustle is so admirable. Here is a woman who took her time to play, record, edit audio, edit video and then promote the hell out of it. Step by step she gets closer.

 

 

 

 The same goes for Tommy Trent. Here's a guy in his living room with some electronic assistance, a mixer, a guitar and his voice giving his version of Dream Academy's Life In A Northern Town.

About 20 years back a hustler name of Michael Dean put together what I think was his first documentary - D.I.Y. or Die How to Survive as an Independent Artis. This gem has helped those outside of the mainstream brainstorm on how they can get their work in front of people. If you are, maybe, a bit punk and not near the mainstream then you might well find some great info on how to get your word out there.

Take a look at the list of interviewees on this - they have everyone from Craig of Craigslist to Jim Rose to Dave Brockie of GWAR.

My best goes to Dove and Amy and Stephanie every other musician, painter and poet in this town who struggles to get their word out. And if you are doing it too, well them goddammit it goes out to you too.