Modern vinyl

What I Do: 

I started writing for Modern Vinyl in the fall of 2014. Music and writing are two of my biggest passions in life, and I love being able to combine the two. I was initially brought on as an interviewer for the site, but have been known to write some feature stories from time to time, including the "In Support Of The Art" series, where music industry professionals and musicians alike discuss why they are so drawn to the vinyl medium and what they enjoy most about their jobs. I also help curate the "Collector Of The Month" series, where I chat with record collectors with extraordinary collections and unique stories about how pieces ended up in their collection, as well as their thoughts on events such as Record Store Day. In addition to those main features, I'll throw in a few "Random Pull" pieces, where I dig into my record collection and write about a record. I've also collaborated with the staff members of the site on "Best Of..." year-end lists, collaborative mixtapes, playlists and much more. 

My main role was as an interviewer, where I like to get some deep insight from musicians. I don't ask the typical "music writer" questions. I have taken everything I've learned from my journalism classes to ask some hard-hitting questions. I like getting to know what an artist is truly passionate about, be it in the realm of social justice, politics, mental health, or their own personal opinions about current events. Sometimes the aforementioned things go hand-in-hand with what they've been recording. Other times, it's just great getting to hear what really sparks their minds and interests. Interviewing is a rewarding job for me, because I enjoy hearing some pretty unique stories from the artists themselves.

In September 2016, I was promoted to Managing Feature Editor, allowing me to have more editorial power and insight over the entire staff's work, instead of my own. 2016 was the year where I found myself taking on a more hands-on approach to the site, in terms of editorial insight, as well as social media work. I use Instagram to tease interviews I've conducted, and showcase live events I attend. In August 2016, I went to the GWAR-B-Q in Richmond, Virginia, where I utilized Instagram Stories; a feature implemented on Instagram that's very similar to Snapchat. I documented my day at the festival, putting together a story for Modern Vinyl's Instagram followers to watch. Each story is available for a 24-hour period, and I've also showcased events I attended with unique, interesting tidbits about the venue and bands.

Occasionally I'll tweet from the Modern Vinyl account, helping out the Editor-In-Chief when he gets too swamped. I've jokingly said on the Modern Vinyl Podcast that I'm the site's "Emoji Queen." Usually when I tweet from the account, I throw in an emoji...not to be "cute," but to give a tweet some added eye-catching flair.

Modern Vinyl is also home to The Modern Vinyl Podcast. From time to time, I've filled in as a guest host on select episodes. In 2015, I traveled to New York City with the main podcast crew to help with the taping of their first live podcast. That was the first time that the hosts had met in person, and it made for a very memorable weekend.

When I'm not filling in as a guest host, or writing for the site, I record as one of the three hosts of the Missaligned Podcast, a female-centered podcast in the Modern Vinyl family. I picked up this gig in early 2016, and have discovered the joys of podcasting! The ladies of Missaligned and I talk about current events in the music industry. Since I've been a part of the podcast, we've discussed cultural appropriation in music videos, what it's like being a woman in the music industry, the ongoing court battle the singer Kesha is going through with Sony Records and some of our favorite music. 

I also help run the Missaligned Twitter account, engaging with listeners, posting polls and teasing upcoming episodes and future content.

The Missaligned Podcast can be found on Soundcloud, Overcast.FM, as well as in iTunes.