Creation Myths: Exploring the Creative Journey
Two years ago, during the summer of 2023, my longtime friend/collaborator Steve Madsen and I were getting together on a weekly basis to work on an experimental music project we were calling Backster Effect. Bubbling beneath the surface, at least for me, was the dread of the growing realization that the general populace was no longer engaging with music like they used to. Not to mention that, as lifelong musicians in the local scene, we knew there was boundless talent in the basements and bars of Wisconsin and everywhere that rivaled mainstream music.
The only difference is everyone knows the major label artist – who they are, what they do, where they come from.
But every artist comes from a unique place and has a origin story.
In June of 2023, an episode of Rick Rubin’s Tetragrammaton podcast featuring Trent Reznor became the catalyst.
What makes music more than background noise?
The answer might be a lived experienced with the music, and—at least partially—knowing the story of the person who makes it.
We started tossing around the idea of creating a podcast, a sort of “rock doc for your ears,” called Creation Myths that would explore the lives and creative journeys of local artists and musicians doing amazing things.
That evolved into a full-fledged Wisconsin music-focused video project that coalesced in spring of 2024 into VOYD Studios with mastermind Jay Tamez at the helm.
We started with a test shoot of a video podcast called Local Backstage, followed by our now flagship series Sonic Seedpod that features raw live performances by independent artists. The second episode we ever filmed of Sonic Seedpod was with an incredibly talented local rapper and friend of Steve’s, KLA.
KLA eventually stepped behind the camera and joined the VOYD crew, enthusiastically taking over “camera A” duties for Seedpod shoots. He’s been great to work with and get to know, and though we create music in totally different genres, I feel like he’s a kindred spirit creatively.
Since Sonic Seedpod took a summer break, KLA was also dropping his new EP Transition Mode, and I was itching to shoot more documentary-style material after the Seedpod behind-the-scenes doc, it seemed like the stars had aligned and it was time to revisit the original Creation Myths concept. Applying everything we’ve learned since VOYD launched, we brought the idea up to speed and produced what I feel is a compelling and inspiring piece that accomplishes exactly what I hoped it would do.
Take a walk with us in KLA’s shoes in the first episode of our new music documentary series Creation Myths:
Watch it now: Only Going Up – The Rise of KLA
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