Creative Culture Beats is a new program awarded to the Boise Hive from the Idaho Commission on the Arts. It is a part of their Quick Funds for Projects for Organizations. Creative Culture Beats has just completed their Season 1 Media and will hold a live video showcase Saturday, March 20. “During this time of divisiveness we believe music can help bring us together. Creative Culture Beats is the conduit to make this belief a reality”, said Rick Oliver, Creative Culture Beats’ Community & Artists Relations Director. The showcase will feature three of their top artists. They were selected out of the entire group who have recorded videos through the Creative Club Beats Program since November.
The three artists, who are now all Idaho residents, bring the style of their past lives and musical influences to their music, along with influences since they have been in Idaho. Creative Culture Beats had devised a program which ran over the past four months. Talented local musicians applied for a chance to be included in the program. Each musician that was accepted into the program had an original piece of their music recorded at a professional studio. It was mixed and mastered by audio professionals. The studio work was done at the Boise Hive. This is a historical studio where artists such as Paul Revere and the Raiders and Curtis Stigers have recorded.
An interview was done after each song to get info about the story and feelings of the music. Each song had two versions produced. The first version was a full-length song. There was also a ‘beat’ version with some tracks muted such as vocals so it could be used as background for the interview. The song will be introduced and played during the interview. The music pieces will then be made available for online streaming and also distributed to radio stations. “Creative Culture Beats shares the rich culture of music thriving in our community to a wider audience. It also captures the music as a record of who we are”, said Greg Bowman, Boise Hive Programs Director.
Ultimately, the songs were judged and rated by a panel for Artistic Excellence in Music and Cultural Diversity. After each season, showcases will be held at different venues around the state of Idaho. These showcases will feature all of the artists. The songs and beats will expressly be put into public domain usage. This way, others can use them, helping to spread the music for free.
The Artists featured on this first Season One Showcase are Julie, from Congo DRC, Robert from Myanmar (formerly Burma); and Enrique from Texas. In a statement, the Boise Hive said of this, “The intended outcome is to encourage creativity and express cultural heritage in a musical format that is easily accessible and fosters a mutual respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all persons and groups”. The showcase will be streamed live on Twitch TV and on Facebook on Boise Hive’s FB Page. The livestream will be Saturday, March 20, 2021, at 6:30pm.
The Boise Hive was founded in 2013 and provides a staffed, all ages and sober music rehearsal facility. A major asset of the Boise Hive is providing on-site mental health counseling and on-site group meetings. By 2018, the Hive had grown to host on-site mental health counseling.They also host a variety of music programs and concert events, serving the greater Boise community. They are utilizing a 100% volunteer staff that donates more than 7,000 hours yearly.
The Boise Hive regularly holds drum and recording workshops. They also occasionally hold songwriting workshops. It recently added multimedia experience by broadcasting twice a month live concerts on multiple online venues. These feature area musicians of all music genres continuing to meet the Boise Hive’s Mission of spreading awareness of the available creative musical talent and expertise, as well as mental health resources for the music community. Director of The Idaho Office for Refugees, Tara Wolfson says: “The Idaho Office for Refugees is pleased to support Boise Hive’s Creative Culture Beats Project”.
For more information, to volunteer to assist in one of the Boise Hive’s worthy programs or to get help or participate, visit the Boise Hive Website. For information about the Creative Cultural Beats Program, visit the Creative Cultural Beats Website, email them at programs@boisehive.org or call (208) 344-4994.
Creative Culture Beats is a truly Made in Idaho Project. It is designed to connect our diverse crop of new musicians with the opportunity to get some recording time, air time, showcases and publicity. Conversely, it will allow Idahoans to hear new music in styles they may or may not be familiar with. Hopefully they will like and want to listen to more of the music that comes out of the Creative Cultural Beats. This is an excellent way to familiarize oneself with the diversity of cultures settling in Idaho and the Treasure Valley now.
As things open up post-COVID, the Creative Cultural Beats will give many an introduction to other cultures through music. Eventually, some may find some interest in trying an ethnic restaurant or seeing a show. Others may also attend a festival and meet some of the diverse people that are helping to make up our state these days. Now is the time that we can begin to explore some of the diversity in our state. Tune in on Saturday—-you’ll be glad you did!
