Community Organizations — the denver underground

Written by Tessa Barker

Everyone knows to get involved in the music industry you have to network like everyone is your best friend and create those meaningful connections that lead to the formation of a tight knit community; your music family per say. Your community should have all the resources you could need at the dial of a phone from collaborators, to photographers, to supporters. As much work as creating that special group takes, Elle Naef, the relations manager and right-hand women for The Head Room Sessions, believes those tight communities can hinder the creative process. The Head Room Sessions act as a crossroads for artists, in all senses of the word, to network with people they would never meet otherwise in what Naef calls a “bubble crossover”.

It all began with creator Matthew Shaw’s realization that the community art gallery he worked in was “begging for [live music] to happen” strictly based on the sheer perfection of the acoustics produced by the 25’ ceilings. Now for almost four years, Recreative Denver has housed 40 sessions consisting of two artists and two poets that are professionally recorded and photographed with a small but engaging live audience. The Head Room Sessions are completely volunteer run with a mission to help creatives from all sectors of Denver’s artistic community with a career boost through skill shares, exposure and local support. Both Shaw and Naef have a soft spot for DIY venues and local communities, something they feared would be lost with the rapid gentrification of the art districts in Denver, which is why The Head Room Sessions are such an important factor in keeping art a creative and authentic process, rather than a money making operation.

Although The Head Room Sessions only asks for a small door fee from audience members, they have a running fund they use to support local artists who become financially troubled. Due to COVID-19 and the lack of income independent artists face during this time, The Head Room Session’s funds are being quickly depleted. They do an hour long segment on WeAreDenver’s Wednesday podcast asking for any donations via their Venmo, @headroomsessions, in which they then allocate to Denver creatives.

While the live sessions are currently on hold due to the coronavirus, The Head Room Sessions are still creating content and supporting their community, specifically within the Black Lives Matter movement. To show their solidarity with the protests, they have paused all musical programming and handed over their platform to local leaders. Every Thursday community Black rights activists determine the topic they see fit and engage in an honest, thought provoking conversation. So far topics have included Black joy, mental health, allyship and Black space in the arts. These conversation live streams can be found on The Head Room Sessions’ Facebook page.

As the organization itself grows, Shaw and Naef intend on keeping the sessions intimate and exclusive due to the live recording factor. Their main goal has always been and always will be giving Denver artists a place to collaborate and grow while holding true to their non-profit and DIY values. Through their initiative, artists have the head room to let their creativity cultivate and The Head Room Sessions to capture it.

Written by Tessa Barker

For many, music is an escape. But for some, making the music is an even greater release of feelings that get pent up in the brain. This truth is no stranger to the young adults who regularly visit Urban Peak, a non-profit organization that provides an array of services for youth experiencing homelessness or risk of homelessness. Among the programs offered are classes and resources for youth to engage in hobbies and potential career paths, but one specific program is a little more appealing to the ear than others.

The studio program, implemented by Owen Kortz and Owen Trujillo, started with Kortz’s realization of his common interest with the youth he met at Urban Peak: music. Kortz started volunteering with Urban Peak in 2009 and has watched the studio program grow from him bringing his guitar into the shelter, to what it has become today: a home-studio-like set up that attracts talented youth. Because Kortz comes from a more folk indie background, he asked Trujillo, a former student who volunteered at the Peak, to help appeal to some of the participant’s interest in hip-hop. Trujillo brought in a mic, keyboard and midi controller, created a few beats and thus began the first songs created at the Urban Peak music studio.

Since then, crowdfunding platforms have helped bring in donations allowing Urban Peak to turn their music room into a small production studio, adding a mac computer with Logic, a keyboard, microphones, drums, guitars and more. They also recently received a $30,000 grant to not only upgrade the studio, but create paid intern positions for CU Denver students.

The music produced from the shelter is pure and unapologetic as it provides insights into the lives of young adults facing addiction and homelessness. Kortz described it as an outlet for them to “get off their chest what’s been on their minds,” and noted their positive mood change after they’ve had a chance on the mic. Kortz mentioned “time and individualized attention” sparks the most change he sees in the youth as they work on becoming self-sufficient and exit a life on the streets. Through speaking with Kortz and listening to the music posted on the Urban Peak Music Studio Soundcloud. it's obvious that music’s power and influence does not discriminate based on age, living situation or wealth. With the freedom to say what they want and explore a new form of expression, beautiful things have been and will continue to be created.

Because Urban Peak is a non-profit shelter and day-time center, grants, donations and volunteers are never turned away, especially during COVID-19 times. To support Urban Peak and the dedication to homeless youth in Denver, donate to their COVID-19 Crisis Assistance Fund or make fabric masks for homeless service providers with more information found on their website - www.urbanpeak.org.