With what looks to be HN’s busiest year yet already underway, we’re happy to welcome our Spring 2016 crop of interns.
Below, you’ll meet Hayley Solonynka, Gabriella Parsons and Adam LaRose, already hard at work contributing in their respective marketing, editorial and multimedia roles. Parsons published her inaugural feature, an interview with Aurora, Ill., band Mighty Ships, on Wednesday. Solonynka is working closely with programming manager Aaron Markley on HN’s ambitious 2016 schedule.
And you’ve already seen Lindsey Yoneda’s work all over the site, from stunning concert photos to engaging video interviews. Her formal introduction is also below.
Keep an eye out for their names on HearNebraska.org from now through May. From major festivals to house shows, you’ll see them out and about with cameras, notepads and bright smiles. We’re already excited about the work they’ll produce.
[Editor’s note: Say hello in-person for the first time tomorrow night at Zoo Bar for HN’s Take Cover Lincoln benefit concert (RSVP here) or Jan. 30 at O’Leaver’s for Take Cover Omaha (RSVP here).]
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Hayley Solonynka
Age: 23
Hometown: Omaha
Current City: Omaha
Internship Focus: Marketing
What should Hear Nebraska’s audience expect from you during your internship?
Look for updates to social media and a marketing strategy that will make you want to attend every show! There are a lot of events that I’m excited about this summer and fall, and I plan to help make each one kick-ass! (Can I say that? If not, then I plan to make each one stand out through promotions and marketing!)
In what ways/skills do you hope to improve the most during your internship?
I hope to learn more about social media and marketing through the business side, and I hope to improve our various numbers that track each component. Outside of marketing, I want to learn more about booking artists and work with different venues.
What was the first and most recent concert you attended in Nebraska?
My first ever concert in Nebraska? Hmm… Mayday Parade I believe. Followed closely by the Cheetah Girls (thanks Dad). Most recent concert was Satchel Grande at the Waiting Room!
Tell us about a time you realized music and art mattered/impacted your community.
I always knew music was important to me, but I didn’t know anyone who connected with music and art the way I did. When I finally met people who felt the way I did, that’s when I knew it was a critical part of our every day world and some people don’t even realize. Ever since then, I’ve tried to share my love of music and art with everyone I meet and it love to surround myself with people who feel as passionately about it as I do.
What’s one Nebraska artist or band you’d like to work with or cover during your internship?
I’d love to work with State Disco. They’re so new and fresh and they can do so many different things with their clean slate. I’m excited to see where they go from here!
What professional in your field do you most look up to and why?
Melissa Kucirek is the person I most look up to. She came to speak to one of my college classes and my professor introduced us. She’s been a mentor to me ever since and she always goes out of her way to help me and answer all my question. She’s the best!
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Lindsey Yoneda
Age: 20
Hometown: Omaha
Current City: Lincoln
Internship Focus: Multimedia
What should Hear Nebraska’s audience expect from you during your internship?
I’m very excited to dive into all areas of the local music scene, so expect diverse coverage on a wide variety of bands, venues and stories.
In what ways/skills do you hope to improve the most during your internship?
I’d like to improve the skill of communicating. There are so many talented and passionate people in Nebraska’s music and art scene and I’d like to work on reaching out to and getting to know as many of these people as I can so I can bring something unique to Hear Nebraska’s audience.
What was the first and most recent concert you attended in Nebraska?
The first show I attended was There For Tomorrow and VersaEmerge at the Waiting Room back in 2008. They were my first real band obsession and it was a middle school dream come true. The last show I attended was Andrea von Kampen, Mesonjixx and Walk By Sea at Duffy’s.
Tell us about a time you realized that music and art mattered or had an impact within your local community?
I’ve grown up around music and art. My childhood memories consist of going to outdoor summer concerts with my family and walking around art fairs on the weekend. My dad was also very active in the local art scene and he’s recently gotten back into playing music. I’ve seen how many people come to these events to enjoy the city’s creativity and I’ve seen my dad share his own creativity with everyone in the community. My life would be completely different if these things didn’t exist.
What’s one Nebraska artist or band you’d like to work with or cover during your internship?
Plack Blague. I’m intrigued and a little scared.
What professional in your field do you most look up to and why?
Maria Louceiro is one of my favorite photographers right now. There are a lot of imperfections in her photos; sometimes they’re way too underexposed and grainy, but she’s got a very experimental style that’s extremely unique and artistic. She focuses more on capturing the mood than getting a technically perfect photograph and it works beautifully.
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Gabriella Parsons
Age: 20
Hometown: Lincoln
Current City: Lincoln
Internship Focus: Editorial
What should Hear Nebraska’s audience expect from you during your internship?
An array of concert previews, reviews and stories that shine on artists, musicians and go-getters coming out of Nebraska right now. From interviews with artists to practice sit-ins, I hope to cover a diverse range of established and underground local talent.
I will also be working on a story through the entirety of my internship that will give an in-depth look at the intersection between drug and music cultures in Nebraska.
In what ways/skills do you hope to improve the most during your internship?
I hope to develop and fine tune a unique language and approach to speaking about music and art. I hope to easily spark conversations with artists and musicians. I hope to uncover interesting stories within the local scene. I hope to hone my craft and ability to tell stories. In general, I hope that this internship makes me more gritty and unafraid, both in my career and in everyday life.
What was the first and most recent concert you attended in Nebraska?
I’d have to say the first concert I ever attended was The Dubious Brothers, a cover band that my dad was the drummer in while growing up. I don’t think I ever missed a show they played, and it was at these shows that my love for music was born. From Lincoln’s Rib Fest to New Year’s Eve celebrations, I remember getting the backstage view– watching my dad reinterpret the sounds of The Doobie Brothers, Van Morrison and Amy Winehouse, just a few artists that The Dubious Bros covered.
More recently, I saw Mezcal Brothers and Mesonjixx perform at Vega. To no surprise, this show was a complete hit. Not every performance gets the audience moving, but the stage change from Mesonjixx to Mezcal Brothers had everyone from ages 20 to 70 on the dancefloor. Artists like these, who captivate a wide range of audiences, are proof that some music has no age limit.
Tell us about a time you realized music and art mattered/impacted your community.
There have been many times that I recognized the impact of music in Nebraska. One specific moment I remember was at a benefit show for Voices of Hope, which was curated by KZUM’s X-Rated: Women in Music. Mary Lawson and Friends (including Andrea Von Kampen) gave a beautiful and moving performance while a short film about relationship abuse played on a screen behind them. What stuck out most to me about this performance was how very few lyrics were being sung, which gave attention entirely to video and the issue of relationship abuse. This subtle vocal/piano performance was a respectful approach to tributing Voices of Hope and the victims of relationship abuse that they serve. This particular event was just one example of how our community comes together through music.
What’s one Nebraska artist or band you’d like to work with or cover during your internship?
All Young Girls Are Machine Guns, hands down. I have been fangirling over this group for a while now and I’d love to collaborate with them on a story sometime. The very least, I’d like to just tell them how badass I think they are.
What professional in your field do you most look up to and why?
Terry Gross. She’s an incredibly strong and respected female journalist who has interviewed some of the biggest names in the music industry, from Gene Simmons to Lou Reed, as well as political figures like Ronald Reagan and Hillary Clinton. While her interviews weren’t always well-received, Gross never sacrificed her emotions for the sake of her career. Her radio show “Fresh Air” via NPR is one of my favorites.
Amber Lyon. Another gritty and well-respected female journalist, Lyon was a reporter for CNN until her story that revealed government corruption in Bahrain was censored by CNN International. Since then, Lyon has become one of the most well-known whistleblowers of the decade. Her book, “Peace, Love and Pepperspray” follows U.S. protests including the Occupy and Anonymous movements and captures a time where journalists were desperately seeking the truth. Today, Lyon runs an online publication called Reset.me which provides journalism on natural therapies and medicines, educating people about the use of natural drugs and psychedelics.
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Adam LaRose
Age: 26
Hometown: Columbus, Neb.
Current City: Omaha
Internship Focus: Multimedia Production
What should Hear Nebraska’s audience expect from you during your internship?
Hear Nebraska’s audience should expect to see some raw coverage accompanied by premium footage, as if DMX himself was operating a camera barking support amongst the crowds on the dirty floors. Hahaha in all honesty, people should be on the look out for a mixture of my calibrated eye and committed passion for local music.
In what ways/skills do you hope to improve the most during your internship?
Over the course of my internship I hope to hone in on my editing skills in a more efficient and effective manner. I am without a doubt my own worse critic and need to learn that the notion of perfection doesn’t exist. I would also like to experiment with some different shooting styles along the way.
What was the first and most recent concert you attended in Nebraska?
Woof — I’m not certain which show was my first, however I do remember catching a flyer that was thrown from the top of a three-storied stairwell in my middle school and later that night going to a show at Wunderlich’s in Columbus when I was in like seventh grade. I’m pretty sure the JV Allstars and Alone at the Altar played, as well as others. My most recent show was at Reverb Lounge this past Friday, featuring Relax, it’s Science, No Getter, and Sea Kings.
Tell us about a time you realized music and art mattered/impacted your community.
I’ve been involved with an art form my whole life, so to narrow down a specific moment is rather difficult. I do recall an event that I took part in as a member of another non-profit called the World Energy Project. We held numerous fundraisers in the past but this one was different. There was live music and streaming videos in a gallery of sorts and the energy in the place had everyone glowing. Not only was there avid conversation about the musicians, art and installations, but there was a sense of contagious smiling and laughter throughout the hall that I shall not soon forget. That night, amidst others, stands out as a good example of art’s impact on our community; as we were able to grow funds to help install sustainable energy systems to schools in Africa, local artists were able to showcase their work by bringing people together for a cause.
What’s one Nebraska artist or band you’d like to work with or cover during your internship?
Hmm, that’s a tough one, but I’d have to oddly say Satchel Grande. They always put me in a positive groove. After all, I have been known to cut a rug in my day and they’re just a danceable delight.
What professional in your field do you most look up to and why?
I’d have to say Quentin Tarantino. I know it’s kind of a stretch in the realm of the same field but it’s my dream to some day make feature films. Tarantino pushes the boundaries of what is expected and accepted while encompassing a myriad of art forms in his work, which I find highly respectable.