"...when people started seeing that cover [When Dimple Met Rishi] and the conversation that came out of it. And just seeing this happy Brown girl on a cover in the way that you might see, up until that time, only happy white girls, was like a pretty big deal. And I'm very proud of the work that I did on that." - Regina Flath
Don't judge a book by its cover - or maybe do? Learn about the impact Young Adult cover design has on DEI initiatives in Episode 113 from Regina Flath, a former colleague and Assistant Art Director.
This month, for our Carnival Issue, we had the opportunity to interview Lexi Everland, professional fire spinner, New Jersey Wildland Firefighter, and all around badass!
Read her interview here: https://theminisonproject.com/2023/06/14/lexi-everland-interview-for-carnival-issue/
For our MiniGames issue of the minison zine, our Editor-in-Chief scored an interview with Alyse Knorr to talk with her about video games and literature. And stay tuned for our MiniGames issue coming out on April 14th!
Read her interview here: https://theminisonproject.com/?p=1504
Nigerian founders can expect $120,000 investment and more -- Tyler Scriven, Techstars Atlanta MD
Nigerian founders can expect $120,000 investment and more — Tyler Scriven, Techstars Atlanta MD
Ingressive, the same investment group responsible for bringing top Silicon Valley investors — like Michael Seibel of Y Combinator and Monique Woodward of 500 Startups — to Nigeria is organising its 2017 Tour of Tech of Lagos.
As part of the tour, holding between February 27 and March 4, 2017, Tyler Scriven, Managing Director of Techstars Atlanta — a subsidiary of the Techstars Global programme —…
As the music industry evolves toward an increasingly digitized world, it's important to look at creative and emerging entities like FeelTrip, who are releasing music while simultaneously taking advantage of the immediacy that digital sharing offers. Based in Chicago and modeled as a multi-faceted playground for music recording, concerts, publishing, and more, FeelTrip has stood out in the DIY scene as a promising label and creative outlet for many local artists. Below is an interview conducted with co-director (alongside Diana Bowden) and founder, David Beltran, for insight toward the purpose, goals, and artistry behind FeelTrip Records.
Read on for the interview!
CIRCLES & SOUNDWAVES: FeelTrip has functioned not only as a label for Chicago talent, but as a DIY venue, recording studio, a host for events, a segue for Rahm Emanuel hate mail- what do you have in mind as far as what you'd like FeelTrip to become and offer in the future?
David: I have ideas on what I want it to be. In the most broad sense, I would like it to be a bigger and better version of itself than it was the years before. It functions great at the moment as a "be all" entity for a creative outlet for me and my friends. But we hope to cover all grounds- music, art, cinema, maybe even literature who knows, general creation I guess. As much high quality art as we can make.
C&S: You not only contribute artistically to the branding identity for FeelTrip merchandise, you create work under the alias "Bae Cutler" and have worked on projects for notable bands like Twin Peaks, creating the stage backdrop that they used for the entirety of their 2015 tour with Wavves this past Fall- what is your background as an artist and how has living in a community like Chicago molded your artistic career?
David: I've been drawing since forever. I went to SAIC [School of the Art Institute of Chicago] and got a degree in printmaking and painting, or whatever a general BFA. I never took it seriously after college. I didn't pursue it cause I just didn't know how to. When FeelTrip formed, I was making club music as Starfoxxx. I did all my art but now I guess I felt I had a bigger platform to create branding and images for.
I kinda wish I started earlier cause all of it comes real easy to me, but that's the thing- you always feel like it's gonna be there, so you never capitalize on it. Resting on your laurels, don't do it kids! But yeah, last year I talked to my friend Hanksy, who's doing well as a street artist, and I just asked for advice. I really wanted to get into the street art world, so I just basically listened to him. Whenever I'm looking for inspiration, or just outsider angle to approach art, I usually look at Hanksy and what he's doing, or Teen Witch Fan Club, who I am also a big fan of.
As far as living here in Chicago? I dunno it's tough, people tell me I HAVE TO MOVE TO LA/NYC and the more and more my art gets out there, the more and more I feel it to be true. I love this city, it's a small community and everyone knows everyone, but compared to NYC/LA it's like college basketball and the NBA. I'm gonna have to move there eventually.
C&S: More and more over the past several years, it's becoming obvious that cassette tapes are gaining a market share again as labels like FeelTrip, Tall Pat, Dumpster Tapes, and bigger labels like Burger Records are distributing their artist's material this way- what insight can you offer toward the recent rebirth of tapes and what led FeelTrip to distribute music with such a previously outdated method?
David: It was kinda, maybe a collective consciousness thing? I didn't think too much about it. I was making electronic music and I didn't even know anyone was putting out tapes in that genre and I signed to Donky Pitch, and sure enough they were putting out tapes. I think it's a cheap way of making physical copies, and much more tangible than the CD. Although the aesthetic fits certain labels or groups, CDs are real big with the vaporwave scene, but it fit the look and feel of their music. It's half calculated and half a financial decision."
C&S: What benefits have you seen from using modern music sharing sites like SoundCloud and Bandcamp that are more so designed to benefit the artists you represent?
David: Soundcloud and Bandcamp are great, they are the best. Labels are becoming more and more of a collaboration with artists. I think the hierarchy of control of the old days is coming to an end, at least in the middle class level. There will always be these huge powerful labels, or distributors, but at the smaller levels they definitely operate differently. Soundcloud, Bandcamp, or any other music streaming site where you can instantly self publish allows for greater collaboration.
The only downside is you get flooded with a lot of music that isn't ready to be heard yet, or just not great tunes. The trade off is fair though, it seems.
C&S: Given the wide array of genres on your bill including anywhere from Paul Cherry, Sister Crystals, Sophagus, PTA, to Don Bogman and the Buick Boys, what would you say your regimen is when considering new artists to accept onto FeelTrip?
David: Hm, what's that Wayne Gretzky saying? "I go where the puck is going to be, not where it has been." I think of art and music in that way. Some stuff is great, and it's great to revisit but I always want to be current, or ahead. The Sophagus release is probably the best example of going against what we normally release, but you can't be playing catch up with anyone else. A lot of people are constantly comparing themselves to others- I like to use other artists, labels and collectives as references, or even inspiration, but I never think of us as something that we aren't. Generally speaking, it's just our taste, if we like [it] we'll go for it, but we love anyone who is doing it differently, and keeping it 100.
C&S: You two (David and Diana) are personally involved in multiple other music groups including Starfoxxx, YAWN, and have contributed songs toward some of FeelTrip's own mix tapes with songs like "You Hang Up First" on the Unlucky in Love release in 2015- what other creative projects have you been involved in thus far in 2016?
David: I'm constantly upgrading my studio, and always thinking about music and art and the label or what party to throw, helping friends out. It really is such a busy life. I basically quit drinking and doing drugs because the margins of error are so small, and you really become aware of the time you have, and really, how little there is it seems. I'm super focused, more so than the years before, and I think I'm just coming into it right now.
Projects- I have ideas written down. I know Diana is doing a photo project, and maybe a music project in the future, not too sure, but we both run the label from our bedroom. We got a few music videos coming up, working with Daniel from Yawn, and we are also doing some videos for Sophagus. Some stuff we can't go public with yet as well. As far as my art, I got a lot of it. It's what I'm gonna focus on most, so, just follow my Instagram.
Thanks David! Keep up with FeelTrip on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and their official website.
Above is the link to my industry interview with Infectious Magazine! I had a wonderful time explaining my awesome experiences as a young music journalist to Joe Ballard. Answering these questions have me thrilled to continue on my path in this industry - I’m so excited for what’s to come!
