Welcome back to another edition of the S&T reader. Despite various hurdles, we have survived a year, so you might say this is the anniversary issue. This issue exclusively features interviews with people from Arkansas. Our cover model is my son, Luke, who was born shorty after I started this zine around this time last year. Our feature article is an interesting talk with a college professor about technology and it's impact on the brain. We also talk to four different people, from the Little Rock music and art community, about the value of appearances in entertainment, the role of technology in their lives, and a few other topics. One interview is with a rapper and harmonica player, one with a drummer and visual artist, one with a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, also an interview with a local DJ and visual artist. All of these people have a well-known love of Arkansas arts and music culture. So, on this anniversary we regroup and double down in our home state. I hope you find the overall conversation to be as thought evoking as I do, despite the personal difficulties I as senior editor had to overcome to get this issue out. The similarities and differences in the responses to similar questions should provide much food for thought.
He is currently a college professor teaching Remedial English at the U of A at Monticello, but I first encountered Redhawk as a restaurant owner with a big smile and a little later I was formally introduced to him as a person guiding meditation sessions. He is a multi-published and multi-awarded poet who is also quite rewarding to meet, even more so when you get to know him. He was so generous with his interview, that we were able to split it into five parts. In this issue, the first part starts the conversation by addressing what happens when technology and meditation cross paths. Over the course of the next four issues we will provide the other parts to his interview, diving even deeper into aspects of technology, as well as discussing fashion and other interesting topics.
Derek is the guy who has been writing our Game Corner column. He has had a prolific run of volunteer work, constantly attends local events to show support, and is an emcee with a chemistry degree. I first met Rah Howard when the three of us and a few other local artists were invited, by T.J. Deeter, to demonstrate and discuss aspects of music and visual art at a local grade school. The first time I saw Rah perform music live, I knew he played harmonica in his rap set and I was not sure what to expect, but it turned out to be no gimmick. He is a totally professional and entirely well-rounded performer, emcee, and harmonica player, as well as a generally talented guy, all the way down to the very cool design of his website. So, Derek whipped up some questions and Rah had all the answers.
Hopefully a few of you are as excited about the prospect of this interview as I am. It's always a treat to talk to this guy no matter what the subject is. He is the most supportive person I know in Arkansas, so be sure to show him some love as well for giving us this interview, when you see him. We send out a lot of invites and compose a lot of questions, but most of the time we get ignored at one stage or the other. However, Mike came through like a champ, unintimidated by our questions, and delivering answers that get right to the point. Enjoy!
If you are a person who has seen a lot of bands perform in Little Rock, chances are you have witnessed Marcus Lowe on drums or enjoyed his work as a sound-man. These are crucial roles, despite often being outside the spotlight, overlooked, and underappreciated. He is also a very proud dad, as well as a determined and skillful multi-medium visual artist. We were lucky enough for him to give us a nice little interview, despite his very busy schedule contributing to the past, present, and future or Little Rock art and music.
It seems odd that anyone doing cool things in Little Rock would be unaware of this guy, but I guess some people around here still never heard of The Moving Front, The Year of the Tiger, or any of his other bands. In the early 90's there used to be regular free punk shows at the Belvedere in Little Rock's Riverfront Park, before city authorities started treating public youth expression as a threat. Jeremy was pretty much at all those shows, no matter if his band was playing or not. Now he is also a father, influencing the next generation to think for and express themselves. Despite that, he never stopped making his own music. He gave us a really honest interview here, revealing the tools of his trade and some of the issues he has had to overcome. We also discuss stage presence and my classic question about the ultimate party, among other topics. Check it out!
