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Dru Cutler and Kate Reuter discuss their new Route 1 Songwriting Series as a way to help independent artists, how they came to start the series, the challenges facing independent musicians today, and what’s next for Route 1

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Dru Cutler photo credit- Vladimir Weinstein
 
Dru Cutler and Kate Reuter discuss their new Route 1 Songwriting Series as a way to help independent artists, how they came to start the series, the challenges facing independent musicians today, and what’s next for Route 1
 
It can be tough for independent musicians to navigate their way through the music industry these days and and get their name and music out there for people to hear.  Kate Reuter, based in Florida and Dru Cutler, based in New York are hoping to change that with their newly launched songwriting series called Route 1.  Route 1 is a concept designed with East Coast songwriters in mind, to help artists meet their career goals by providing them with events and a platform designed for sharing their music and talent with live audiences. The idea was born out of a mutual passion for helping artists succeed as well as combined experience in promotion, booking, and venue management. Kate and Dru derived the name from the longest highway in the U.S. stretching the length of the Eastern coast.  
Dru and Kate developed the concept to fulfill the increasing need for content, community, and a network of venues supporting independent artists. Throughout 2019, the series will continue in both FL and NYC, and will expand to include venues along the Eastern coast. With a successful first event earlier this year in St Petersburg, FL, Kate and Dru plan to host their second event on April 4th at Unit J, Dru’s home that also serves as an intimate Bushwick loft space helmed by six artists that plays host to live music performances, film screenings and parties.  This event is sponsored by Symphonic Distribution, an independent music distribution, and marketing company. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, they provide labels and individual musicians with digital music distribution tools to over 300 retail and streaming platforms. With plans to expand the series along the East Coast and coordinate events in Atlanta and North Carolina, the initiative has an exciting future!  
Staff writer Emily May spoke with Dru and Kate about the upcoming event, how the songwriting series started, the challenges facing independent musicians today and what’s next for the series.  You can find a link to the Facebook Event page below for the upcoming event, which has all pertinent information, as well as links to purchase tickets.  
 
Facebook Event Page with ticket links– https://www.facebook.com/events/355608925288877/
 

WHEN:          Thursday, April 4 | Doors: 7:00PM Show: 7:30PM

            
11:00PM – Dru Cutler (w/ Special Guests) 
https://www.drucutler.com10:00PM- Kate Vargas and the Reckless Daughters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq6fkSj92Bk&app=desktop9:00PM – Belle-Skinner (Full Band)
https://belle-skinner.bandcamp.com/track/we-shut-our-eyes8:00PM – Kate Reuter – (From FL)
https://open.spotify.com/album/3OlBVYjltoNV7Z3M9TuA2J

7:30PM – Modest Midas – (Exclusive NYC Performance) 
https://soundcloud.com/modestmidas

 

 

WHERE:       Unit J 

                        338 Moffat Street
                        Brooklyn, NY
                        11237
                        https://www.unitjbushwick.com

 

The two of you recently teamed up to launch Route 1, a songwriter’s series that celebrates East Coast independent musicians.  I read that the idea came about through a mutual passion for helping artists to succeed.  How did the idea first develop?  What were the planning stages like?  What can you tell me about the initiative and the goals you have?

Dru and I were introduced virtually to one another through another musician in the Tampa Bay area. It didn’t take long for us to realize that we were kindred spirits who understood both the challenges and opportunities artists face today and that we were in a position to close the geographical gap. A couple of brainstorming phone calls later and we had some ideas on paper, including the name, Route 1, to represent the concept. We agreed to remain flexible and realistic with regard to our goals, keeping the music creators and content producers at the center, because we want it to stand the test of time in a rapidly-evolving industry. 

What led you to focus on East Coast artists?  Do you think you will include songwriters from elsewhere in the country in the future?

Kate: It was a natural fit given the geographies where we reside. We certainly are not opposed to expanding, but would like to tap into the existing resources, venues and artists already here. 

Dru: There aren’t a lot of conversations about the musical language of the East Coast, so I’d like to keep focusing on that. 

It’s a good time for the East-Coasters to get to know one another, and maybe sing a few tunes.  

In what ways do feel that you can use your experiences in promotion, booking and venue management to help other artists? 


We wanted to build events that take that into consideration the challenges of booking and promoting a show as an independent artist, and give them a platform to showcase their talent to appreciative audiences. We are also working on resourceful ways to capture photo and video content that from our events, so the artists can utilize this as part of their strategy for ongoing promotion. Given our experience, we are able to pull the pieces together to make it happen, while keeping the creators at the center.

 
What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing independent artists currently?  Do you feel that it’s become easier to be an independent artist in recent years, especially with the rise in social media and streaming platforms?  


The biggest challenge now is that the work of independent musicians not only involves creating art, but also requires the promotion, distribution, and sale of that art. Streaming has also made it more difficult to get a financial return from those efforts. The landscape of this industry has evolved such that areas like content development, social advertising, and even direct selling are at the forefront, and the learning curve can be very steep. Artists need resources and support more than ever to help do their job well and realize financial benefit.

 

Route 1 had its first event at Hideaway Cafe in St Petersburg, FL earlier this year.  What was the response like?  What were some highlights?

The response was great. We enjoyed the support of local radio and media outlets, who helped us sell out the show, plus sponsors such as Symphonic Distribution whose support enabled us to capture the event with professional photo and video. And, Hideaway Cafe provided a high-quality listening room experience for the artists and guests. We also recruited help from local college students to coordinate and provide content for the event. It has been really exciting. 

 

Unit J will be hosting the next event on April 4th in Brooklyn!  Dru- How did you decide which artists to select for the event?  What can people expect from the event?

 

I met all of the artists through the Unit J circle over the last 7+ years. They’re all thoughtful songwriters with a unique style and story. I knew Kate Reuter was on the bill, and I looked for things that would compliment her vibe. 

 

What your upcoming plans for Route 1?  What events are coming up?

 

We’re working to expand the series along the east coast, and are coordinating summer dates in Atlanta and North Carolina. If you read this, and you know a venue that would be a good fit, reach out. 🙂

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