Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1523410
12 maconmagazine.com | June/July 2024 A s the cicada chorus peaked, then faded into the rising Macon heat , last year's Music Issue cover feature – actor and producer Sasha Hutchings – asked us if the brood's tunes were carr ying us through the creation of this issue. We'd reached out to New York-residing Sasha to catch up on our way to photograph TORRES (page 40) in her Brooklyn dwelling. The Macon-raised alt-rocker powerhouse's meaning of " home" inspires us to hold true to our passions and tighter to the ones we love. She'll play live at one of the local venues in our guide (page 34) during Bragg Jam (page 47). Help us welcome her back home on July 27th at JBA. W hile photographing Jasmine Habersham, a friend of Sasha's while at Rosa Taylor Elementar y, the cicadas played strange harmony to the opera reverberating through the celebrated soprano's Postmodern home. Her voice has her traveling the world, but her Macon "treehouse" on page 88 is her sanctuar y. Hear from patrons why Macon has become a symphonic oasis on page 66. But Macon has been a river of song since before it was called "Macon," and you can step into its " bubbling waters" (the meaning of the river we call "Ocmulgee" in the Muscogee language) again and again. You'll f ind a love song to those waters in "Homespun," a roundup of 20 local-loving, new album reviews and 10 singles. That same river will carr y you through time — like paying your respects to the people and places of the Chitlin' Circuit at the local sites where, writer Candace Dantes says, "Black funk, soul, and rock 'n' roll muffled the impact of a Jim Crow era ." One of those Chitlin' Circuit performers is on our cover. Robert Lee Coleman (page 50) played with Percy Sledge and James Brown and still performs weekly as Macon's reigning ax-slinger. Another is Newton Collier, the trumpeter who played with Sam & Dave and remains one of Macon's most profound cultural lore keepers (page 59). These legends still walk among us. The river also carries us into the future. Read about Mike Clark, Jr.'s chart-topping Southern soul (page 86). Then, hear how we're ensuring that future, as writer Julia Morrison asks, "With so much cultural development from a number of players, what will Macon do to keep the beat – so that the economic development engine's roar doesn't turn into just noise?" There is work to be done to seize this moment . Think collaboration f irst when it comes to supporting the entities that are doing the work. That's the Macon way. The simple necessit y is: Listen to our music. Don't overcomplicate it . Play the tracks, buy the album, go to the show, bring your crew, f ind the importance in supporting the economic benef it of it all, but above all, listen to the music. Editor's letter | JUNE/JULY 2024 Editor, Susannah C. Maddux @susannahcmaddux Listen to our music ABOVE Our photographer Jessica Whitley, managing editor Sierra Stevens, and I pause in the Brooklyn golden hour for a photo with Macon- raised musician Mackenzie Scott and her wife, artist Jenna Gribbon. Photo by Jessica Whitley. RIGHT On set at Third Street Studios with Robert Lee Coleman, promoter Johnny Mo, writer Candice Dyer, and Sierra between shots for our new storytelling docu-series. See the final product on our social media platforms, filmed by And So We Go. We want to know your story. Join the conversation @maconmagazine or email us hello@maconmagazine.com. Celebrate our music at our annual MM Music Party on July 17 at Grant's Lounge featuring Macon Music Revue, Mike Clark, Jr., Robert Lee Coleman, Mama Mia, and more, presented in partnership with Visit Macon. I'll meet you on the dance floor.