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?
https://belle-skinner.
https://open.spotify.com/
7:30PM – Modest Midas – (Exclusive NYC Performance)
https://soundcloud.com/
WHERE: Unit J
338 Moffat Street
Brooklyn, NY
11237
https://www.unitjbushwick.
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.
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.
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. 🙂
