Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Johnson.
Hi Candice, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
College was an extremely explorative time for me and that’s when I got into scouring websites for different types of music. I graduated in 2014 when digital music purchasing and downloading was prevalent. After classes, most of my time was spent working at my collegiate bookstore. During those days, I’d be shelving textbooks and listening to whatever I had on my iPod at the time. One of my co-workers turned close friend (and graphic designer) would talk to me about the latest and greatest releases and challenged me to think critically about song composition, lyrical content, and production. The rest of my years would be spent studying, getting involved, and still loving music but not as passionately. After college, I decided to join two hobbies that I wanted to get serious about, writing and listening to different types of music.
In the present day, BINACT has grown so much from the passion project started by a young adult. In almost 7 years I’ve built a brand with an active blog podcast, sold multiple merch designs, and held three large-scale independent artist showcases. I love listening to music and sharing the talents of hardworking musicians and artists. What started off as something to get my creativity flowing has turned into a vital part of my life.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There are always obstacles on the path to success. Content creation and event planning require lots of time, effort, and money. Most creatives know the struggle of choosing to make money the quickest way or the way that requires a slow build. The biggest struggle I’ve faced while building BINACT the slow way is keeping my moral integrity intact. The music industry is known for shady practices and although I know I don’t want to lose myself in the industry, seeing others around me rise to large levels of success while I’m growing steadily is something I grapple with on a regular basis. This time of rest and reflection has shown me that I’m exactly where I need to be regardless of what social media shows me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
BINACT, which stands for But I’m Not a Critic Though, is a space for music exploration and conversation about music you love without feeling judged and finding others who feel the same way. Doing the metaphorical crate-digging through countless hours of albums, genres, and artists for the best tunes so you don’t have to. What makes me proudest of BINACT is how much care I put into championing hardworking artists. We hold space for quality mainstream music but at our core, we are a home for independent musicians and recording artists that want their stories and voices to be heard. Additionally, I’m proud of launching the BINACT Member Space back in January! It’s a monthly access membership to additional perks (exclusive virtual event, monthly playlist, merch discount, and member-only communication channels) outside of the blog and podcasts!
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
App: Quirk Chat (Geek and Fandom Commentary app) – I love getting on here to blow off steam and talk about my favorite hobbies and topics including music
Blog: Transcending Sound
Community Event/Hub: Den Music Fest
Podcasts: Aftershock Reviews, Jukebox II (formerly Runaway Jukebox)
Pricing:
- BINACT Member Space: $10/month
Contact Info:
- Email: candice@butimnotacriticthough.com
- Website: http://butimnotacriticthough.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/butimnotacriticthough
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/binact1
- Other: http://butimnotacriticthough.com/links
Image Credits
Denise Benson Photography
Tamyia Allen Photography,
Sauce With Spoons Photography
