Re: Definition

I am entertaining the idea that asking an artist to define themselves is a special kind of death. A death of “all that could be”, that the artist themselves have not yet even conceived.

If we understood the temporary nature of a definition — that is a sign to stand for a signified — then maybe this death wouldn’t have to occur.

What do I mean by that? Simple.

If we understood that in one moment we are one thing and in another something completely different. Like right now, I am light and happy and healing; and though I pray that these times come fewer and far more in between, in another moment I may be darkness, I may be in depravity and allowing that depravity to usurp my name… as we all may sometimes do.

But that is not how we understand things. Very often we have this tendency to try to chain someone to a sign that was created. So that if they, the signified themselves, are changing, the sign would be constricting their growth to the limitations of what they once were. Artists, and people, essentially are plants that are growing. You can’t always keep them in the same pot, or else they will never grow to their full potential.

This is why I love music that doesn’t conform to a genre. I love music that recognizes the moving nature within ourselves and just continues to power on and be themselves regardless of what name/identifier is given to them. Please allow me to share with you some of my favorite local artists (and when I say local, I mean near to my heart in friendship) who do just this, & so much more:

Bangarang is a music experience out of Tampa, Florida. These boys get it in, EVERY TIME, and leave nothing to be desired. Even getting to know them have been an experience in and of itself. They are a group of caring and talented individuals who want to lift and inspire and live. They are a deep peaceful and chaotic force to be reckoned with, and a witnessing a live show will make your soul just want to Bang.

SAMURAI SHOTGUN is another chaotic force of peace out of Tampa, Florida. These guys will rock your faces off… I mean imagine lying in a river bed face down, but instead of floating to the top you sink to the bottom and you are taken up by rapids. As you are whisked away the stone bed of the river is bumping across your face. Yeah it’s a little painful, but at the same time you’ve never felt so alive and when you finally submerge from the water, your face has been exfoliated and you can breathe again. That’s what listening to Samurai Shotgun is like… for me anyway.

Jonathan Brown is a force of a slightly different nature out of New Orleans, LA. The first time I saw him he was a feature performer out of a local venue called Sacred Grounds in Tampa, Fl. I was immediately captivated by his wild stage presence; and I say wild because Jonathan loves the bejeezus out of you but will be himself, unapologetically so. He will take you on the journey that is pain and destruction and life after all of that, when you thought there was no more. He is awkward in all the right ways to help you realize that true awkwardness lies in everything we’ve been taught. I do hope you get to meet this man one day.

Forthteller is a harder band, a screaming band, a done and finished and can’t even band, a what the heck are you just standing there for band, a we can’t do this on our own band, a you are not alone band, an everything is fucked band, a lets unfuck this shit up band, a band out of Tampa, Florida who rages and is enflamed with the spirit. You’ve got to hear it.

CAT FAMILY RECORDS is a DIY Record Label out of Tallahassee, Fl. Led by Scott Bell, Cat Family is doing something unique. Cat family takes the essence of difference and embraces it in a way that brings varying genres of music together in order to create a listening experience that has successfully fed a multiplicity of varying parts in your soul. They are driven by passion, pizza, and free beer… and of course cats.

This is redefinition. These are artists undefining themselves and undenying themselves to be all that they are supposed to be. These are the things I like to see. Thank you!