A marriage can only be successful if both partners are committed to the nourishment and enhancement of the relationship.
For Phoenix-based music blog Underground Alt, the matrimony in question is not one between two committed humans; it is the joining together of two profoundly influential art forms that have the power to give undiscovered musicians an outlet for their work.
Founders Freddie Paull and Mandi Kimes have taken a shared passion for promoting the local music community and used it to produce a site that showcases intimate live performances from alternative bands covering other local bands. In doing so, the duo has created, in Paull's own words, a "marriage of film and music."
"I let music take me on tangents in my head," Paull said. "Then I let it lead me through a rabbit hole."
His journey through this rabbit hole began when he and Kimes thoughtfully placed one alternative artist's original song into the hands of another alternative band to perform a cover. One of their recent collaborations consisted of up-and-coming local band Vinyl Station covering a track by the slightly more established Phoenix natives Snake! Snake! Snakes!
(Photo courtesy of Shop Radio Cast)From there, the aesthetic construction of the performance begins, and the Underground Alt team uses its resources and creativity to select a location that will match and enhance the vibes of the live music. For instance, Paull envisions performances with strong reverb to take place in a tunnel, while music with a dark electronic vibe is best suited for the more ominous, dark environments of the big city.
Meanwhile, Kimes offers creative input while handling the business side of production. Luckily, her longtime involvement and experience with the local music scene makes it easy for her to reach out to those within her extended network of music aficionados. In fact, her Mixtape Mandi podcast and blog connected her to Paull, who left a comment on her site. The rest, as they say, is history.
The name, "Underground Alt," perfectly sums up the vision that these two established when they founded the site. Kimes explained that the idea of someone breaking out from the underground while achieving alternative music's purpose of going against the grain adequately represents the site's desire to find artists creating work outside of the norm and expose them to a larger audience. She and Paull both feel that Phoenix has the potential to launch an abundance of local talent onto the national scene, much like Mesa natives Jimmy Eat World.
https://play.spotify.com/user/jhgold2/playlist/6M54msCgFcS5Ep5Zccym8W
Although Paull said Underground Alt's most unique focus is local bands covering other local bands, it also strives to connect with artists from around the nation and the globe.
"Some bands are destined to be successful in an international market," Paull said. "But they won't have that chance unless someone hears them."
Showcasing the music of international bands through a local lens also allows the international fan base to be exposed to Phoenician artists, providing a fresh outlet for both bands involved.
Kimes also expressed a desire to make Phoenix more of a must-see destination for bands and music-lovers from all around the world. She said she hopes the visual aspect of Underground Alt will expose viewers to a side of Phoenix they wouldn't normally see, showcasing the city's beautiful landscapes, sunsets and people.
"We'd love to see Phoenix become the new Austin, Texas," Kimes added.
Ideally, the Underground Alt team hopes to see the phenomenon of local bands supporting and covering other locals take place all over the world. Paull and Kimes feel that it is an excellent way for someone to automatically discover two amazing bands at once, and believe that every band deserves the chance to be heard.
"For us, (Underground Alt) is a passion project based on fusing things we love: music, friends, community, and again for me, the marriage of film and music," Paull said.
With his camera and her connections, this artistic marriage is destined to last happily ever after.
Now, check out the official premiere of Underground Alt's latest video, featuring Phoenix group Longbird's a cappella cover of Northern Hustles' "Empty Notes."
Tell the reporter about your favorite local band at celina.jimenez@asu.edu or on Twitter @lina_lauren.
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