I enjoyed learning about the local music in Ithaca during the LWYL cafe on Sounding Out Ithaca. I never before realized how many musical organizations are present in this area, especially Ithaca Underground. Hearing the musicians talk about their work and what it means to them really inspired me, as I find it so powerful to see a group of individuals come together to do something that they love. I especially enjoyed listening to Sammus speak, and she described her life growing up in Ithaca. She is now a post doctoral fellow, and I find it inspiring how she has been able to specialize in studying something that she is so passionate about. In the end, it is so important to enjoy what you do for a profession, and this talk serves as a reminder of the importance of finding a community to share that passion with.

During this webinar, I learned a lot about how Ithaca Underground provides a platform and resources for a diverse range of local Ithaca artists. I think it is really great that there is such extensive support for our local artists and also aspiring young artists. In addition, I enjoyed learning about the way technology can enhance not only the auditory but also the visual experience of live performances. In addition, technology allows us to explore uncommon musical mediums, such as whale song. 

From listening to Enongo talk about her experiences, I learned that artists are also laborers, and need to be treated as such. I was surprised to hear how popular streaming sources, such as Spotify, tend to cover up exploitation of the artists they seem to support. Although these apps provide a digital platform for artists to attract listeners and show their work, it also hides the unfair compensation of these artists who work hard to produce music and present them to the public. It is especially relevant now during the pandemic, with digital streaming becoming the main source of income when live shows and tours are canceled. Touring helps listeners connect to musicians personally and help musicians bring in income through merchandise, which has been greatly affected by the pandemic. 

Another aspect of the webinar I really enjoyed was the integration of technology into creation of visual and auditory experiences that not only enhance live performances but also help with conservation of whale populations. Seeing the laser set up that can interact with synthesizers and create music was really cool, and really shows how having makerspaces allows for creation for not only hobbyists but also musicians. I was also intrigued by how music could bring attention to the declining whale populations, and how it helped raise awareness and educate people about the importance of conservation.

Overall, I really enjoyed this webinar, and it featured an amazing panel of artists that were able to talk about Ithaca’s local music scene and its far reaching effects. I learned a lot about Ithaca Underground and what it is able to do for our local community as well as globally.

After I have attended the Sounding Out Ithaca webinar, it has come to my realization that music is more nonlinear than I have previously imaged. The diversity of the songs I’ve listened to really inspired me to believe that music can really be anything and that to be a musician it takes talent as well as dedication. I also think that the artists are very underrated in what they do and that this is especially seen in minority groups. This event has inspired me to listen to a greater variety of music and even (maybe) produce my own music as well.

Before attending this event, I had no idea how rich and diverse the music, art, and social justice communities are in Ithaca. I loved learning about Ithaca Underground and how it exists as a “barrier-breaker” in terms of providing resources and support to local artists, organizers, and community members. It was great to hear about how Ithaca Underground uplifts those in marginalized and underrepresented communities. This program reminded me of the YOUMedia program in Chicago, which provides resources and support for teens to engage with graphic design, photography, video, music, STEM, and more through different Chicago Public Library locations. I was really fond of the YOUMedia program in Chicago and it made me happy to hear that there’s something similar in the Ithaca community. I found it really interesting to hear about some of the speakers’ music creation process, as well. I thought it was cool that they used samples from old video games like Metroid and Blade Runner and were able to apply their background in technology to create music using synthesizers. I thought the speakers brought up a great point about how touring is a key way for small artists to interact with their fans, which places greater importance on having visually appealing performances. The laser jacket and laser-powered synthesizers with light sensors were really amazing ideas. I was so impressed that everything was done DIY by Googling things! It was also nice to hear about the intersection of the music community and social issues. For example, it was really cool to hear about how the music of humpback whales led to a worldwide movement for marine sustainability, as well as a moratorium on commercial whaling.

There is a ton I learned about the underground music scene in Ithaca at the Sounding Out Ithaca webinar tonight. Hearing from a DIY musician, composer, visual artist, and Ithaca Underground’s very own Arts Organizer and Board Chair at this panel offered perspectives on the importance of making, listening to, and supporting music in communities like ours. I could talk all about Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo’s self-made hip-hop music videos, Senior Lecturer Annie Lewandowski’s whale listening projects, and Melissa Crumrine’s visual storytelling on her journey with female body standards, but instead I want to discuss a recurring notion among the panelists that particularly stood out to me: musicians are laborers and deserve to be paid.

It’s easy to picture a musician and question whether they can really support themselves by just playing music– but perhaps the problem is not that they are choosing an “unstable” career path, but that we (as listeners) are not giving them our full financial support for the work they do. Yes, playing music is work. It requires physical, mental, and even social effort in order to perform music live for an audience or produce and publish it for people to stream. When we listen to music, perhaps we feel like a voluntary service is being provided to us because it is effortless to enjoy the music we like. But think of the musician’s perspective: they are devoting their blood, sweat, and tears to create and perform music that both they and their listeners love, only for listeners to behave as if they are entitled to having access to such art. What nonsense! Just as we pay plumbers who repair our leaking sinks, taxi drivers who take us from one place to another, and teachers (albeit through taxes) who deliver knowledge to our brains, we ought to pay our musicians in a manner that matches the labor they go through and the enjoyment we gain from their music. So, go! Listen to your favorite artists’ music, support them by streaming their songs and following them on social media, and– this is crucial– pay them what they deserve!