Friday, June 3, 2016

Cover Letter to Sub Pop Records

Bekah Zeitz
Sub Pop Records
2013 4th Ave #300
Seattle, Wash. 98121

Dear Bekah,

I was a freshman in college, sitting in my “Intro to Criminal Justice” class being fairly certain that I wanted to work in Law Enforcement. Next thing I knew we got our finals back, mine had a big “D” written in the corner. I remember going home and thinking “man, that was so unbelievably depressing.” Not even just flunking the class, but the material! Why on earth was I doing that? Memories of my childhood came flooding. The first time I strummed a guitar, the first time I saw my aunt work a soundboard for the band she was producing, the first time I met an A&R for a real label. Every show I had ever been to seemed to play in my head, I thought of the happiest moment in my life. What was that moment? Right in the front for the Naked and Famous at Sasquatch Music Festival 2014. That’s when I knew, I had to change directions. Following some family trouble and mental road blocks, I joined the ranks of my family’s finest dropouts. In that time, I went to shows weekly. I would go to local shows and think “damn, if I had my own label, I’d snatch them in a heartbeat.” Then, just like the last major teenaged epiphany, I decided that I had to go back to school and get my degree. After speaking to a few A&Rs and producers, I knew what my path was. I ventured shallowly into the world of music journalism and became the music editor for Sucker Magazine, an online publication that me and a few other losers started. (See what I did there?)
Becoming an A&R seemed like a faraway dream so I tucked it away, in the hopes becoming a big and bad child protection officer. I believe I truly have what it takes. I love music more than anything, it saved me. Music lights a fire in me that nothing ever has before. With that fire comes dedication. Sucker Magazine doesn’t bring in any revenue, yet every day I’m writing new material for it and applying for press passes, and running all over Portland trying to score interviews with musicians. Being a hard-working individual despite speed bump after speed bump has been my biggest strength in propelling me forward. Additionally, I have a firm understanding of the music industry, seeing as though I grew up in it. I have learned an incredible amount from my aunt Linda Perry, who is a grammy award-winning musician/songwriter/producer. Ultimately, she was my inspiration to venture into this industry. Lastly, I am a vibrant and positive person. Life has thrown me through the ringer to say the least, but what’s the use in letting it knock you down right? Those obstacles have shaped me into a motivated and driven individual. When I lock my eyes on what I want, I will do what I need to get there with a big, dorky smile on my face.
I hope to grow and immerse myself in Sub Pop Records. As a Seattle native with a musical family, I have been raised listening to Sub Pop bands. This may be cliche, but it’s truly my dream. Not only is it my dream to work among some of the most talented people in the industry, but it is my dream to be a part of the fun and vibrant community you all promote. No matter what my heart will always hold a place for Sub Pop, but hey, if it doesn’t work out we could always just start a kick-ass band?


Sincerely,
Dylan Conner
111 N.W. 11th St.
Corvallis, Ore. 97330
Apartment #102

www.linkedin.com/dylanaconner
www.facebook.com/dylancee123

Photo Essay: Late-Night DJ's at KBVR fm



Two students at Oregon State University, Madison Butler and Trevor Swope, run a show at KBVR.fm which is a student-run radio station located in the Student Experience Center on campus. Their show titled "Low End Hypothesis" airs on Tuesday nights from 11 p.m. to midnight. As it nears their airtime, the two select the required three public service announcements they have to announce during their set.

Butler, a sophomore at OSU, prepares a list of specific tracks he would like to play. Both he and Swope have curated their own mixes that they made on their own free time to use for their show on Tuesday, May 24. The theme of their show, "Low End Hypothesis", is EDM or "electronic dance music."


OSU sophomore and co-host Trevor Swope expresses his excitement for the mix he created. When asked what was going to be played, he says, "You'll see, I'm apologizing in advance." The two of them agree that the late-night shows are more fun because you get to use less discretion with what you play on-air.
Swope watches as Butler takes a lap around the station in between songs. The two of them love goofing off during their downtime because "There is nobody there to yell at them." One game they've created is seeing who can race around the station the fastest before the song ends.
At the end of their show two other students and fellow DJ's, Zack Barry and Glen Galant, stop by to say hi and chat before their show that begins at midnight. "It's really fun when we overlap because sometimes we walk in and interrupt their show and start cracking jokes on-air," says Galant.