By Ezra Lloyd
Since our friends at Bohemian Foundation, Museum of Discovery, and 105.5 The Colorado Sound have put together Sonic Spotlight, a virtual music showcase aimed at highlighting emerging talent in the area, we decided to resurrect a classic feature called “Pleased To Meet You: “ The (once print only) interview series where we find fresh talent in the area and give them a shout out.
Read More below about how to get involved in our virtual events and panels like Sonic Spotlight and stay up-to-date with Hotel WiFi by signing up for our newsletter.
Who are you, where are you from, and what’s your band/artist name?
My name is Jackson Smith, I’m currently based in Windsor, and my solo project is called Hotel WiFi.
Are you excited to be part of Sonic Spotlight?
Of course! I was really surprised to be selected and it’s really cool to get to work with people in the scene!
What venue was/is your favorite place to perform as a band?
We haven’t played too many shows too far but so my favorite was the show that we played at a house venue in Fort Collins called the Laundry Room. It was my first show with a full band and the place ended up being packed with college kids. It ended up going great and was the ideal first show for us.
Who are the local bands that you look up to?
There’s a lot of great bands and artists in the DIY Scene that really go under the radar even when it comes to Fort Collins. Artists like Plasma Canvas, Yail, Adazuri, The Red Scare, Roseville, Sad UWU, Rose Variety are all doing groundbreaking stuff with their music.
What record (from any artist) is one that you love the most?
My favorite album of all time is Logic Songs by Little Kid. It’s a Lo-Fi album that uses biblical references to talk about depression and alcoholism. It’s use of synthesizers and field recordings give an incredible atmosphere to the well-crafted songs and I hear something new every time I play it.
Who do you want to play a show with someday?
I’d really like to play with an artist that I’ve been listening to for a long time, such as Field Medic, Duster, AJJ, etc. There’s also a lot of bands in the DIY scene outside of Colorado that I would love to book shows for after Covid.
Who are the other artists you are excited to see/hear from that are participating in Sonic Spotlight?
I checked out Noah Orlowski’s music after the Lineup announcement and was really impressed so I’m excited to see what he does. Also, my friends in People In General are for sure gonna drop another banger.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m just getting started on recording my next full-length album with my new band and other awesome people from the scene! After that, I’ll definitely be sticking around for shows and stuff!
Sonic Spotlight is a brand-new virtual music showcase and competition brought to you by Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 105.5 The Colorado Sound, and Bohemian Foundation.
Selected artists and bands will get a chance to work with industry experts, connect with creative peers, receive radio airplay, create a professional music video, win prizes, and level up their music.
This fall, Sonic Spotlight presents two virtual showcases featuring some of the region’s most talented emerging musicians. The Sonic Round kicks things off with never-before-heard radio-ready tracks from all 8 artists taking over the airwaves on 105.5 The Colorado Sound and 90.5 KCSU. The program then culminates in the Spotlight Round, which will debut music videos from each finalist created during the program with professional support in an exciting, interactive online broadcast.
A panel of music industry veterans will be present throughout the program and will determine which artists advance, and ultimately which finalist is named winner of Sonic Spotlight 2020.
All Sonic Spotlight showcases, mentorship sessions, and artist opportunities will be held virtually.
