OED Welcomes Thirteen New Seattle Music Commissioners

By Alex Rose

Please join the Office of Economic Development in welcoming the newest members of the Seattle Music Commission: Adra Boo, Denise Burnside, Miss Casey Carter, Jason Clackley, Andrew Joslyn, Keola Kama, Eric Lilavois, Bunnie Marie Moore, Anne O'Dowd, Jovino Santos Neto, Jessica Toon, Nick Vaerewyck and Shannon Welles. We are excited to partner with these experienced industry leaders!

The Seattle Music Commission is an advisory body that works with the Office of Economic Development to enhance the growth and development of Seattle's music sector as well as convey the City's commitment to the industry, musicians and live music audience that comprise the local music economy. Some flagship programs include City Of Music Career Day, the launch of 'Experience the City of Music at Sea-Tac Airport,' and Musician Priority Load Zone. The commission has also sponsored internship opportunities, community engagement events, racial equity trainings for music industry professionals, and more.

We are pleased to introduce these new Commissioners:

Adra Boo

Multifaceted entertainer Adra Boo is a soul singer, emcee, "Westminster Daddy" and Auntie. As one half of electro-funk duo Fly Moon Royalty, she shared stages with the likes of Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, Robert Glasper and Macklemore. Currently, Adra is a member of new wave noir band Hotels, performs with SimonePin Productions and Dark Diamonds Burlesque, and directs Rain City Rock Camp's adult programs.

Denise Burnside

Executive director of SMASH (Seattle Musicians Access to Sustainable Healthcare), Denise is growing the movement to help musicians lead healthy and creative lives in Seattle and the Puget Sound region. In previous roles, she helped build The Showbox into a flourishing venue and directed the vision, design and construction of KEXP's new home at Seattle Center. Denise is also co-founder of the Beacon Hill venue Clock-Out Lounge.

Miss Casey Carter

Miss Casey Carter "MCC" has spent the last 10 years working within the independent music scene. From interviews to event production to marketing, MCC has devoted countless hours to supporting up-and-coming talent in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Startup projects include TheBlowUp.co, an independent music blog that successfully ran for three years and "The Glow Up," a weekly podcast highlighting art and entrepreneurship.

Jason Clackley

A longtime advocate of all-ages and DIY music, Jason Clackley is a youth mentor and recording and touring artist. He has helped run many all-ages programs and DIY spaces, including Fusion Cafe at the Downtown YMCA, Black Lodge. and Ground Zero's Music Program. Jason is currently the artistic director of The Vera Project.

Andrew Joslyn

Composer, orchestrator and violinist Andrew Joslyn is an award-winning musical polymath. He currently runs his own production studio in Seattle, has co-written chart-topping songs, has scored several feature-length films, and writes music for artists, labels, podcasts, music licensing houses and commercials. He is also a national trustee for the PNW chapter of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs).

Keola Kama

Keola Kama is a native Hawaiian from the island of Maui, whose education and music career has taken him from Seattle to Los Angeles and back. In Los Angeles, he was a radio host and volunteer coordinator with KPFK FM, and then turned his focused to digital marketing with Capitol Records, EMI Music and Universal Music Group. He is now director of Label Relations and Licensing at Napster in Seattle.

Eric Lilavois

Eric Lilavois is a record producer, engineer, mixer, musician and songwriter. He produces a wide variety of musical acts and styles earning substantial production, engineering and mixing credits. Eric is an owner of Seattle's famed London Bridge Studio, where countless multiplatinum records were recorded, including Pearl Jam's "Ten," Mother Love's "Bone Shine," Soundgarden's "Louder Than Love," Alice In Chains' "Dirt," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' "Downtown," and many more.

Bunnie Marie Moore

Professionally known as BunnieOnTheBoard, Bunnie Marie Moore is an audio engineer and teaching artist uniquely filling a gap in the current monoculture that is recording engineers. By focusing on work with women and artists of color, she aims to show that the recording studio doesn't have to be a scary place for artists like them. Bunnie is creative director of record label PNW Beats, and volunteers for organizations such as MusiCares, Rain City Rock Camp and The Vera Project.

Anne O'Dowd

Anne has been executing festivals and events in Seattle and beyond for 20 years, including Northwest Folklife Festival, Bumbershoot, PrideFest and Capitol Hill Block Party. Anne brings her excellence in planning and execution for production, logistics, programming support, budgeting, and other aspects of creating unforgettable community experiences to her current role as Events and Festivals manager at Friends of Waterfront Seattle.

Jovino Santos Neto

Three-time Latin Grammy nominee Jovino Santos Neto is a master pianist, flutist, composer, arranger, conductor and educator from Rio de Janeiro. After 15 years as a member of the legendary Hermeto Pascoal Group, he moved to Seattle in 1993. He taught at Cornish College of the Arts for 26 years, meanwhile establishing himself as a fascinating performer, whether playing solo piano, leading his award-winning Quinteto, or in guest appearances with ensembles and orchestras worldwide.

Jessica Toon

Born and raised in Seattle, Jessica Toon has dedicated her career to developing and supporting creative communities through mission-driven arts and culture organizations. She has co-owned and operated an independent record label (Made in Mexico Records), led marketing at Seattle International Film Festival and EMP (now MoPOP), and in 2019 became executive director of the PNW Chapter of the Recording Academy/GRAMMYs.

Nick Vaerewyck

Building on a career in sports and entertainment at arenas around the U.S., Nick is vice president of Programming at Climate Pledge Arena and is responsible for the strategic content programming of all concerts, family shows and special events, as well as facilitating the NHL hockey and WNBA basketball schedules at the new facility. In 2020, he was honored as a Venues Now Generation Next recipient.

Shannon Welles

Shannon Welles is a lifelong music lover and brings deep passion to her more than 20 years of work in the live music industry. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Leadership from Seattle University, focusing on the intersections of art, artistic citizenship and ecology. She is the founder of Friends of The Showbox, a community coalition to landmark and save Seattle's iconic music venue.Shannon holds a management position with The Showbox.

OUTGOING COMMISSIONERS
We also want to extend a huge thank you and a warm farewell to departing commissioners for their years of service: Reese Tanimura (2015-2021, SMC Chair 2017-2021), Sharlese Metcalf (2016-2021, SMC Vice Chair 2020-2021), Jerry Everard (2016-2021), Ben Hunter (2017-2021) and Ben Secord (2018-2021). Collectively, they led advocacy efforts to engage elected officials and private sector leaders in their support of music and creative industries, championed safety in the music scene, promoted local talent, engaged with developers around affordability and cultural space, and created internships and career opportunities for young people. We deeply appreciate the work that they contribute to the local music scene and look forward to opportunities to work together in the future!

The Seattle Music Commission is always seeking opportunities to engage with the community. If you have ideas, thoughts or concerns that you would like to share, please email [email protected].

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