Staff Bios
Justin Spicer - justin@ssgmusic.com On Twitter at: @justinbspicer
An egotistical grump, Justin Spicer hates everything, even when it brings him pleasure. He fancies himself wordly wise but chooses to bury any signs of intelligence in ill-spoken non-sequiturs and ritualistic editing. He has a lengthy resume including articles for Ad Hoc, KEXP, Tiny Mix Tapes, and various print outlets. He would gladly discuss them, as long as you promise cash upfront.
Melissa Daniels – melissa@ssgmusic.com On Twitter at: @MellyMarieD
I’m Melissa, a five-foot tall ball of spice! Seattle’s been my home after moving from Monterey, CA six years ago. I have a degree in journalism from Seattle Pacific University. I’m a country girl at heart, but love all kinds of music. I can’t live without reality TV, wine & chocolate. I used to work for Q13 FOX News and had my own talk radio show for a few months. I watch way too much MTV, VH1, E! & Bravo for anybody’s good. SSG Music is my perfect storm of media & music, so I’m overjoyed to be a part of the team. Oh, and I start everyday with a dance party.
Timothy Grisham – timothy@ssgmusic.com On twitter at: @TimothyRadar
When not writing articles and blurbs, or taking photographs, for everything from People Magazine to Maximum Rock N Roll, Timothy plays guitar in the punk infused indie rock band Happy Noose. The NYU film-school alumnus also runs his-own boutique record label, and makes short films and informational videos for public and private non-profit organizations.
Mark Naborczyk – mark@ssgmusic.com On Twitter at: @Naborczyk
Originally from Detroit Rock City I moved to Seattle four years ago to “follow my dreams…”? In all honesty I was just bored and have an affinity for sushi and microbrews. Growing up with a classically trained jazz and orchestral musician as a dad and a theatre-geek of a mom, I knew from young age I wasn’t going to be in it for the money so I chose to become a writer. I enjoy wine with my writing, whiskey or gin (depending on the season) with my dance moves and I’ll sit on your lap while serenading you with Gin Blossoms songs if we ever cross paths at karaoke.
Allen Huang – allen@ssgmusic.com
During the day I’m a professional nerd but at night I’m an album-reviewing, karaoke-pumping, meat-marinating hero. I liked Radiohead a lot (A LOT) in high school but now I think they’re “ok.” My first tape was the soundtrack to TMNT II: Secret of the Ooze. Currently obsessed with all things gloomy electronica, Korean pop music, and Terius Nash. My dream is to teach a 10 week course about R Kelly at a community college.
Aaron Sharpsteen – aaronshapr84@gmail.com
Midwestern transplant Aaron Sharpsteen traveled to Portland to attend graduate school in 2008. He had been writing bad poetry and passable academic work for years when he was brought on by SSG Music in February 2012. He currently writes album reviews, show previews, and some features columns for SSG Music, as well as regularly attending shows in the Portland area. His musical interests mostly fall on the heavy side of things, though he can usually find something to appreciate in almost anything. Besides writing about music, he has also played drums for several years.
Lindsey Bluher – lindseyb@ssgmusic.com On Twitter @lindseyblue
I was named after Lindsey Buckingham, but as my hands are too small to reach all the strings on a guitar I decided to make a life writing about all the bands I’ll never be in. I love Seattle, street meat, and my useless history degree. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, sea otters are the most adorable creature under the sun. Don’t argue.
Gregory Burrell – gregory@ssgmusic.com On twitter at: @grgryburrell
Gregory Burrell here! I was raised in Redmond and am now living in Seattle. I have degrees in history and communication from the University of Washington. I have worked in radio as a producer at Sports Radio 950 KJR and the Tacoma Rainiers, but my hope is to get into marketing for something event/s oriented. I grew up enjoying all kinds of music, but it was Michael Jackson who really kick-started my passion. I even sport an MJ Thriller pose tattoo! I have this talent for remembering words to songs very easily and enjoy singing to them immensely. I’m fascinated by hipster fashion and women with tattoos, so too often during the evenings you can find me, usually Capitol Hill, participating in some various types of debauchery.
Daniel Ahrendt – daniel@ssgmusic.com On Twitter at: @fplusimages
I’m a recent graduate of Pacific Lutheran University with a bachelor’s degree in musical arts. I work in childcare, writing, photography, paper-pushing, and A/V environments to fund my habits in music/radio/sound worship, photography, writing/reading, comic illustration, traveling, and lounging. I’m quite happy to be a senior staff member for SSG Music and to further document the NW scene through visual and aural apparatuses. I can also teleport and shoot lasers out of my eyes.
Tiffany Wan – tiffany@ssgmusic.com On Twitter at: @tiffwanee
I have a degree from the UW that tells me I’m a journalist, but who knows what that’s worth nowadays (aside from what my student loans tell me). Some of my work has shown up in SPIN.com, Seattle Weekly and Seattle Met magazine, among other local publications. When I’m not pounding my head against my laptop from writer’s block, I make coffee and teach little kids English to pay the bills, sing my heart out at karaoke, ride my bike, volunteer at the Grand Illusion Cinema, dream about living in Berlin, write short fiction, debate the merits of grad school, and go to shows.
Gabriel Arguelles – gabe@ssgmusic.com
I moved to Seattle from Miami two years ago. I love Blue Sky Natural Soda, other peoples’ pets, and the occasional comic book. I over-use dashes and commas in my writing, and for that fact, I’m super-content. I was brought up with hardcore and metal and some of that remains with me and informs some of my choices. I write a lot of previews for SSG Music, and I go to a lot of shows.
Levi Fuller
I make and compile music in Seattle. I’ve released three solo albums and many volumes of the compilation seriesBall of Wax Audio Quarterly, and play in a myriad of bands. I enjoy being the lead copyeditor for SSG Music, the editor of the Ball of Wax, have a regular column on KEXP’s blog, and over the years have written for various web sites here and there. I have a day job at a fantastic non-profit organization and design, print the occasional album cover or rock show poster. Sometimes I sleep.
Kat Taylor – kat@ssgmusic.com On Twitter at: @PlatKat_Hearse
I love the Seattle music community—there’s always something to see! I prefer dance and industrial tracks, but I’ll give anything a listen. After spending several years as the editor of an electronic music magazine in Austin, Texas, I noticed a silent hole in my writing career and SSG is the perfect fit! When I’m not out on the dance floor, I’m barreling through town in my mobile barrage of heavy bass and flashing lights, the Barbie Dream Hearse.
Suzi Pratt – suzi@ssgmusic.com On twitter at: @Suzi123
I am a Seattleite via Hawaii who was first introduced to the Seattle music scene in 2008. Prior to that, I was submerged in the pop music world, and that remains my area of music expertise today, although I am by all means an eclectic music listener (jazz is by far my favorite genre). When I’m not at a show, chances are I’m out running, eating my way around Seattle, or traveling the world in search of adventure. (Photo by: Alex Crick)
When I was in Chicago, I frequented their small dirty jazz and blues bars like Lula’s in Humboldt Park, witnessing incredible musicians who would perform funky renditions of songs like “At The Car Wash” that would end forty minutes after it began. This gave way to my infatuation with the beat culture of 1920s, and had me longing to experience other major cities after hearing friends stories of hitching freights and rides across the U.S. After dropping out of Shimer College I made my way from Chicago to Portland with a burlesque dancer I had met only months before the move, and began my adventure of attempting to get published. As for Music, I have had an obsession with The Stooges for quite sometime, and contemplate dressing up like Jim Morrison for halloween each year.
I live in Boise, work in public radio and watch Star Trek with my cat. Beyond that, I play in an endearingly sloppy punk rock band, consume reading material at an unhealthy pace and obsess over Marvel Comics. On the day I bought my first Ramones record, I knew that my infatuation with music would fit perfectly into my despicably nerdy lifestyle. I like rock music even more than I enjoy much more sophisticated, socially acceptable pursuits such as malt liquor and Tetris. Someday I will own an impenetrable survivalist compound in the Montana wilderness
Tarin Fasano
I live and bike around in Brooklyn, play saxophone, make electronica, paint, do music journalism, and write press releases for a LES art gallery. Aesthetics and catharsis are my jam. I like to wonder about concepts vs. technical skills, sound quality in an age of milquetoast sound-systems, and how to be original/contemporary in a sea of information and influences.
I’ve lived many places, but have called the Pacific Northwest my home since 2004. I spend my days creating video games, my nights enjoying the great live music scene and everything else the greater Seattle area has to offer. I’m not a particularly big fan of recorded “music,” but greatly enjoy all genres of live music. I especially like high-energy performers who blend scummy punk rock with blues, country, and Americana.
My name is James and I am one of the younger members here at SSG Music. My music tastes span everything from indie and post-rock to jazz and folk. I am a large supporter of all-ages music and I volunteer at The Vera Project when I can. I enjoy photography, golf, math, and playing the guitar. I’m graduating this year and I hope to study Physics at either the University of Washington or MIT.
Myles Cordova – myles@ssgmusic.com
I hail from the land of Texas. If you’re into Mark E. Smith and fine single malt scotch, I will be your best friend. At my house, music is always on, and after years of seeing mind-blowing shows night after night, I decided it would be best to remember these events with words. I am a baker by trade, and a noise-guitar noodler by night. Seattle is my new home and SSG Music is my new crew.
Kevin N. Murphy – kevin@ssgmusic.com
My name is Kevin. I make photos and videos. I sure do like music.
It’s my dream to be the tambourine girl in a rock ‘n’ roll band. No, I did not say I had any rhythm. But I do like to shake it. Until then, SSG Music is one more awesome outlet for me to live and breathe music, without actually being able to sing a note. I am a music enthusiast down to my core, and a former newspaper journalist now happy to work as a freelance writer and photographer in Seattle.
Kelly Alexander – kelly@ssgmusic.com
Hi, my name is Kelly and I’m a musicholic. I blame/thank my hippie parents for that. My first concert was Chicago 17 in 1987 and I’ve been hooked on live shows ever since. I love genres from metal to hip-hop and everything in-between. Lately I’ve turned my obsession to our awesome local music scene. I will do everything humanly possible to help promote our local artists. Besides music I’m also into being in the outdoors every chance I get.
A native of Colorado, I have lived in Seattle since moving here in 1997. I received a BA in Creative Writing from Seattle University and an Associates in Graphic Design/Photography from Shoreline CC. I currently work as Marketing and Communications Manager for a non-profit organization that provides employment opportunities for people who are blind. I’ve been a musician most of my life and play guitar in various bands, as well as run a vinyl-positive independent hardcore punk label. Outside of SSG Music, I’ve scribbled for publications including Tablet and Profane Existence Magazine. I jam cassette tapes in my Volvo and never have time to sleep.
GK Limcangco – giankarla00@gmail.com
90’s Seattle music was the drug of my teenage years. I can’t sing a note in tune but I belt something out when no one’s listening. I have two goals in life: write a book and travel the world. Music is the best boyfriend I’ve ever had and even my husband agrees.
