PROFESSIONALLY
UNOFFICIAL
We’re a collective built from the scene, not outside of it. Photographers, journalists, musicians, artists, and lifelong music obsessives working together to document the real talent around us. The DIY shows, the late-night sets, the local restaurants, the bigger stages, the small-town legends, the gear heads, the fashion statements, and the people who live and breathe it all.
We care about the guitar that’s been played for a decade, the tools used to craft, the pedals and amps, the beginnings and futures of careers, the venue walls soaked in history, the speakers, the stage, and lighting at the venue. The mindset that keeps independent music and business alive. This isn’t just coverage, it’s preservation and exposure.
We’re wanting to build something more meaningful than an algorithm with a never-ending, scrollable feed. We’re creating a community-driven platform with local artists, venues, creatives, and business owners to be a shared space for ideas, art, sound and to be a definitive voice for people in the area and scene.
THE TEAM
Nick Martinez
Creative Director | PhotojournalistNick currently works at Larry’s Music and Sound and has been in and around the music scene for about 20 years now. Either writing and playing music, helping run sound and lights, repairing gear, or photographing bands/instruments, he is constantly involved in a multitude of aspects surrounding music, art, and self-expression. Apart from his work, Nick enjoys camping with his wife Brittanie and trying new foods. He is inspired by 80’s-90’s horror and sci-fi and enjoys gaming and playing with analog gear of the past.
NCM-PHOTO.COM | IG: @nickgoa627
Ben Hall is currently going to school for his Associates in Arts. Outside of work and school, you can likely find him doing photography whether it be concert, couples, landscapes, etc. He also enjoys playing guitar and collecting records in his free time.
Carousel KATHRYN
Photojournalist | Contributing Editor
Benjamin Hall
Photojournalist | Contributing EditorFor Carousel, it is about letting people be seen. As a photographer her work displays more than a story but the emotional depth of the subject and moment. Her work is “for people who aren’t afraid to be seen”; spanning from automotive and weddings to concerts and solo portraits, considering herself a “niche less” creator. She works closely with local sound company Codex, shooting artists such as, The Revivalists, Grace Bowers, Drive by Truckers and more. Beyond her pursuit in camerawork, she is most known for her affiliation with the Hickory local music and events venue, The Premier. If she did not have to work, she would spend all her time consuming as many books as possible with her tuxedo cat Beebs. She enjoys spending her days training for half marathons and enjoying a cigar (or cigarette, whatever is available). As a native to Morganton, NC, her summer is full of hiking but you are most likely to find her in her kitchen baking sourdough loaves.
Ashley Perry
Photojournalist | Contributing EditorAshley is a Hickory native and an App State graduate with a degree in english and a concentration in film studies. She’s a big fan of movies, time with friends, and a good craft night. She is excited to have this opportunity for a creative outlet and to meet talented artists!