“It shocked me when I would hear that older citizens chose not to vote and looked at November 3rd as just another day. We, as Americans, are lucky to have a country where the people rule. Our government is in the palm of our hands. Frankly I’m not happy with the present situation the United Sates is in, and I know others feel the same way…the American Dream is declining for my generation and others to come if we don’t begin to change. Voting is the number ONE WAY to implement change.”
I wrote this when I was 17 years old. Taken from a speech I gave to my high school after President Clinton had been elected, I was giving my argument on the importance of voting. And the importance of voting in all elections. I can remember writing it, the energy behind it and the teenage rage when I would hear that people didn’t vote, didn’t care. I was part of the “Rock the Vote” generation. This need to speak up and get people to the polls was ingrained in me. I seemed to get the importance of this simple act from very early on and it has stuck with me ever since.
While in college in Athens, Georgia, I was a registered voter at my parents’ house in Lawrenceville. About an hour’s drive, I would drive to their house before or after classes to vote. This was for all elections, not just for the ‘big’ one for President. I couldn’t not vote once I turned 18. I was so vocal about the act, I wanted to ensure that my actions matched my soap boxes. One day after a roundtrip drive to Lawrenceville to cast my vote, I was at the gym wearing my ‘Georgia Voter’ sticker. The man at the check in desk asked about it, not aware that there was an election that day. In telling him my story, I could see the guilt which then turned to an ‘aha’ moment. I didn’t vote for the accolades; I voted for change and told my story so others would understand their power. Their voice.
This drive for keeping up with the elections and checking in that friends and family were registered to vote continued after college and as I grew older. Without the internet being as it is today, finding out about candidates and issues was more of a process. Mind you, it could be done. You just had to talk in person to a few more people. And then pay attention to the local news to be sure you were aware of when elections were taking place. The “Rock the Vote” movement didn’t seem as big as I progressed into my late 20s and 30s. Or perhaps I just wasn’t the target market anymore. There was a trend though to get people to not just register but pledge to go to the polls. The pledge was sending a message of commitment. That you were truly taking the step to get into action, not just filling out a registration card.
2020 comes along and it’s an ‘all hands-on deck’ situation to get people to vote. The race for President was going to be tight and one that citizens could use to send a message. I noticed more and more messages about the ‘Pledge to Vote’ as all forms of social media were doing their best to reach voters. The company Ben & Jerry’s had created a sign-up campaign for registered voters to sign and pledge that they would be making their voices heard in the upcoming election. The goal, as in the early days, was to pledge a commitment and inspire conversation about the importance of voting. Then, something magical happened.
At Adult Swim, part of my role was to manage music releases. This could be in the form of a mix tape, an album, a music video, library music for the promotional team or music festivals. We kinda did it all and all in the service of the fans. Over time I had developed some amazing relationships with various artists and groups. One such group was Run The Jewels. Their music was as much a part of the network as Robot Chicken or Rick and Morty. Not only was their music heard on promos and bumps, animated music videos were also created connected various album releases. One of my favorites that I produced was a collaboration with the Rick and Morty team for the track “Oh Mama” off RTJ3.
The band released RTJ4 in the summer of 2020. The original plan was to have a tour to coincide with the release. But with COVID, the tour was canceled, and the album was released early as a gift to the fans. I was working on an animated piece with Titmouse for one of the tracks from the album that we planned to release in the fall. Then we get a call that the band was working with Ben & Jerry’s and they wanted to do a live to tape performance of the new album. The message? Pledge to Vote. My planets were aligning. We hit go on production and had about nine weeks to pull it off.
The production shoot would be at the end of September so we could get the special on air by mid-October. We had to move fast and in the time of COVID, nothing was moving too fast. We had a whole new level of restrictions on us as to what we could do when it came to an in-person shoot. Plus, there were to be special guest performances as well as intros and segues to record with a host. Working with Director Tom Bingham of Rocketslide Films, we had calls nearly every day working out how to solve the puzzle of the shoot as well as the post production. What could we do remote, what needed to be in person and how late could we shoot and still make our deadline? Another curveball, this was to be the first simulcast with Adult Swim and what was then called HBO Max, along with a digital simulcast on YouTube. The simulcast conversations were ongoing and to say I learned a few things would be an understatement. The band’s managers were incredible at helping us navigate schedules and the special guests as well as approvals.
The beautiful part of all of it and what kept me going on the very, long days? That we were creating something with a goal of “Pledge to Vote.” The message was loud and clear in the wrap arounds with host Eric Andre and during the songs we recorded. Killer Mike and El-P were always on point to not only give back this stunning album in visual from but to also be clear on the importance of voting and voting down the ballot.
As we got to the final week of post production, the activist in me was feeling out of body. Here I was with the opportunity to create a piece of art and with a message that was so important to me. And with one of my favorite bands. The hard work was worth it as we released it in October along with the animated piece that Titmouse and Animation Director Sean Soloman created. The special garnered a lot of attention and over 75,000 pledges. I had found my space in using curated content to send a message.
No surprise that as I started building Angelfish after leaving Adult Swim, my vision was to continue the path started with “Holy Calamavote.” I aimed to create content to impact the community and give voice to the underserved. With that in mind, I reached out to Her Term to learn more about the company and see about content needs for the 2024 elections. Her Term was created with the goal of getting women elected. The non-profit recruited women and provided resources for them as they ran for office. I was hooked. Getting to know Executive Director Han Pham has been a blessing as we develop ideas for content. I’ve also helped on script writing for events with candidates.
Sometimes when you look back, everything looks like a straight line that got you to where you are now. And perhaps the voting message is a straight line for me as it’s always been there. As I write this, I realize that it was 31 years ago that I became vocal about the importance of voting. And in 31 years, that voice has never been silent. Talking to people about it, making content about it, my one true thing.
As this year’s final election is upon us, I will say again what I’ve said many times. Your voice matters. Let it be heard. Voting is such a simple act, yet it carries such a huge weight. Make your plan. Do your homework. Vote what feels right to you.
Just VOTE.
**Take the Pledge to Vote!
**For all things ice cream and information on the upcoming election, check out Ben & Jerry’s Churn Out The Vote.
