Creative in Residence: Cody Carlyle Dixon

Lowcountry Local First (LLF) is proud to announce Cody Carlyle Dixon as one of the two recipients of its Creative in Residence program, an initiative that awards a six-month opportunity at Local Works, LLF’s non-sector coworking space. Cody will began this residency on July 1 and  will receive mentorship over a six-month period to enrich his creative ventures.

Cody is full of passion that shows in not only his own work but in the community around him. He continues to contribute a ton to the Lowcountry and  is a great fit to Local Works. We are excited to see what the rest of the year will bring with Cody here.

Well I’m a sound engineer and  stage hand  for local venues around Charleston. I’ve been doing that as well working as a musician and  producer in the area for 7 years. I work with the places like Awendaw Green, Redux, The Purple Buffalo, and  Charleston Music Hall as well as other lowcountry non profits. I also write poetry and  other types of music as well as rap.

I want to combine all these things into programming for workshops, retreats and  after school programs for kids in under privileged areas and  in schools lacking art funding.

I’m doing the work I’m doing now to make a difference in a children’s lives who weren’t blessed to have opportunities in music and  other art mediums that I had. I always had these resources readily available and  in a country where arts funding is getting cut I want to do my part by providing those same resources and  opportunities. By showing kids all the different aspects of not only the music industry but the arts industry as a whole gives them more opportunities and  choices of what they want to do when they are older.

My creative process is pretty rand om. I have set times I’ll sit and  write music or plan events or programs but a lot of my thoughts hit me rand omly and  I have to stop and  get them out or write them down.

I usually try and  immerse myself. Music is very inspirational to me so I get my ideas while I listen to music or at events. A lot of my inspiration comes from past civil rights and  musical movements like the black panthers, the Harlem renaissance or the origins of hip hop. All those movements were built on unity and  the rearing of the youth which are strong principles I want to keep close to soul power.

I brainstorm and  collaborate a lot with others as well which is also what I’m most looking forward to at local first. I can’t wait to meet other members and  businesses and  collaborate to create something that impacts a lot of people.

One piece of advice would be to practice and  plan more because you can never have to much experience in those areas when practicing a craft!