Alex Maiolo
Immersion travel, participatory journalism, purposeful work.
And music - there's always music.
Work Experience
Lee-Moore Insurance Agency
Owner & Operator 1998 - Present
It might seem unusual for a person who has dedicated his life to The Arts to choose insurance as a career, but it’s a case of catering to a need. In our culture rich community of Carrboro and Chapel Hill we have lawyers who came out of the Indie Rock scene, and an accountant who used to be a Goth. The woman who sold me my house is a Jazz singer. Yet nobody was tending to the insurance component, even though it is something we all have to deal with, regardless of our pursuits. I started my agency and brokerage to serve my tribe, and for almost two decades now, record labels, recording studios, design firms, art galleries, creatives, unique restaurateurs, brewers, and distillers have had an option to work with someone who speaks their language.
Tape-Op Magazine
Senior Contributor 2006 - Present
Tape Op may be known as the most widely read recording magazine in the world, but it’s more than that. It’s less of a technical periodical, and more of an ongoing project to document the stories of how some of the greatest music ever made was created. Every writer is encouraged to use their own voice and, after 20 years, the magazine remains independently owned, staunchly DIY, deeply respected, and more relevant than ever specifically because of that. My role has been advisor and journalist, primarily focusing on articles requiring deep research, or those that focus on Northern Europe, specifically Scandinavia.
Premier Guitar Magazine
Interviews / Reviews / Profiles 2012 - Present
I was approached by Premier Guitar to contribute because they have always strived to be an alternative to the other guitar periodicals. They were looking for writers who understood it was time to move past the Blues-based Boys Club these magazines inherently are. I’ve focused primarily on iconoclastic gear builders and Psychedelic music. 60,000 print issues are mailed, and the website reaches 1.5 million unique readers per month.
Reverb.com
Interviews / Tech Tutorials 2014 - Present
Reverb.com is an online music gear marketplace that designed to address the fact that the Ebay exprience had become frustrating. Interviews and tutorials were added to make the experience even better. I was approached to contribute based on my work with Tape Op and Premier Guitar, and given carte blanche to pursue content. My focus has been primarily on Electronic Music, and tutorials. In 2015 I was asked to expand my focus into Europe.
Live from Moogfest | Spotlight on Anders Trentemøller | Spotlight on Suzanne Ciani | Interview with Alessandro Cortini of Nine Inch Nails | Interview with producer Michael Beinhorn
International Press
2006 - Present
Pitchfork Music Festival, CMJ, SXSW, Berlin Music Week, Roskilde, SPOT Festival, Copenhagen Psych Fest, Moog Festival, Five Points Music. Reported on the daily happenings of International Music Festivals through various media.
Suburban Summit
2016 - Present
Collaborated with Forbrændingen venue, in Copenhagen (Albertslund) Denmark, to produce an original music performance with members of St. Vincent, Caribou, and the Thy Music Collective. Two more performances planned for 2017.
HAVEN Festival
PR & Media Outreach (US) 2017 - Present
Copenhagen Food, Beer, and Music Festival that is a joint collaboration between Claus Meyer, founder of Noma, and the "New Nordic" cuisine movement, Mikkel Borg Bjersø, founder of the respected Mikkeller beer brand, and the Dessner brothers, of the rock band The National. Duties include working with The Danish Consulate in NYC, VisitDenmark, and U.S. based PR and media outreach.Other Work
Seriously Adequate Recording Studio
Owner & Operator 2010 - Present
Consumer equipment made it possible for me to start recording as a teenager, in 1983, but a major paradigm shift in technology, and the music industry itself, leveled the field for DIY recordists, starting around 2001. I built Seriously Adequate with the goal of creating an affordable space, for musicians who need my help with engineering and production, or who can work on their own. Credits include releases ranging from Chamber Pop to Metal.
Grammys / National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
2015 - Present
Voting member of The Grammy Awards.
Future of Music Coalition
2001 - Present
Advisor to a Washington D.C. based think tank that studies how artists are affected by the intersection of Music, Technology, Policy, and Law.
South By Southwest Music Festival
Selection Committee 2016 - Present
After 13 years of acting as a Mentor and Speaker for SXSW, I was appointed to the committee that chooses which panels and discussions will be accepted by the festival.
Crunchy Frog Record Label
2012 - Present
Aid Danish Independent Record Label in logistics, housing, and gear acquisition for bands and staff traveling to the U.S.
Guest Lecturer
2008 - Present
Georgetown University, New York University, Ramapo College, St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers & Accountants For The Arts. Topics included Music Business, Recording Techniques, Recording History.
Boycott Band
Actor & Writer 2016
Participated in the development of a comedic film designed to raise awareness about a discriminatory bill passed by the North Carolina Legislature. Also had lead role. The film gained praise by Adweek and other media outlets.
Sound Diplomacy
2016
Partnered with Berlin-based advocacy group on presentation about German music of the 1970’s.
HINT
2003 - 2014
With the aid of a Cummings Grant, co-founded an advice line for musicians in need of healthcare. Advocated for a National Health Service.
Big Star
2010 - 2013
Organized and promoted the live performance of the band’s legendary album Third, in multiple cities, with members of the original band, REM, Yo La Tengo, Wilco, Tom Petty, Teenage Fan Club, Matthew Sweet, and others.
Panelist / Speaker / Moderator / Organizer
2001 - Present
San Francisco Tech Summit, SXSW, CMJ, Potluck Audio Conference, Tape Op Con, Pop Asheville, Pop Montreal.
United Telespectrum / Centel / Sprint / 360 Communications
1992 - 1998
On a team tasked to solve problems related to sending data over wireless networks.
Broad Street Coffee Roasters and Wine Merchants
1989 - 1992
Marketed, roasted, and distributed high end coffee for one of the few roasters in the U.S. at the time.