Designing Garbage 101: “Dust Radio: A Film About Chris Whitley”
An old college friend of mine found me on the facebook. The almighty evil FB. Let’s talk about that in a separate (well deserving) article. He approached me about a project he was working on, has been working on for the last decade. An important one for him and for those that cherish the spirit of independent music and film when it merges out of necessity.
Jon and I met a long time ago, we played Madden, talked shop, never studied, talked music, girls, sports mainly. Jeff Buckley was one artist I turned him onto then, 94, somewhere in there. Jon and I lost touch over the years, the paths lives take took over. He to NY/CHI me to, well, let’s not talk about it. Fast forward 13-16 years.
Jonathan Mayor has been working on a DIY documentary for years following the death of artist and songwriter, Chris Whitley. Providing a lasting, raw, true memory of the artist, and the music that his life affected many has guided Jon through out the process of trying to reach a completion. We first met up again via email on the MySpace a few years ago. He mentioned he had been working on a film for awhile about Chris Whitley. He knowing I love music offered him my kudos. Especially a very well unknown underground songwriter who never got his fair handshake from an accepting market because of one simple fact- Chris Whitley was a true artist. The moment he was pigeon-holed, he changed, he did as his spirit led him to whatever creative hunger he needed to fulfill. He didn’t create for anyone but his own reasons. And by doing such, like many great artists, found an allegiance from punks, folkies, indies, the beats, poets, blues, and all walks of life alike.
Jon thankfully found me to help him with marketing/design as he approaches the finish line on what I know has been a long road for him as well. Chris Whitley’s spirit is on the line and deserves to be seen and heard, raw true and naked. Pure. Jon knows it. With craft and patience, I personally can’t wait as a music geek to see the finished piece on this great unknown songwriter’s life plus to thank him for asking me to be involved at all at this point.
www.dustradiomovie.com
