Catch up with Madi Thompson (B.F.A. ’21), a multimedia artist and music industry specialist! Since graduating from Kinetic Imaging in 2021, they have curated local and small-independent touring musicians for shows at Bandito’s and currently Gallery5, as well as, live audio at The National, Richmond Music Hall, Soundworks and various other venues/pop up events. In addition to working in the music industry Madi also plays in bands. Their main project is Dysphonia, they also moonlight in the studio for Reptile Tile, and their upcoming project, Lizard Sister.
Madi shares this piece of advice for current KI students:
“You don’t have to move to New York or California to make a great life for yourself! And you don’t have to move there to work there! As a freelancer I’ve gotten to travel to Manhattan, Baltimore, Florida, and more for well paid opportunities/all expenses and travel paid, and best of all I got to return home to Virginia to enjoy being surrounded by nature and parks and wildlife, and my money spent way better here than it would in a huge city. Apply to the gigs you want and look for opportunities in those big cities, yes, but you really don’t need to move there, especially in this new remote work world. Virginia specifically has risen to cultural hub status, and it’s way easier to acquire means of production here, which, in my opinion, is key to bringing up yourself and your community!”
