ML - Michigan Avenue

2013 - Issue 5 - September

Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!

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TALENT PATROL Dylan Rice stands on the steps at the Chicago Cultural Center with his Martin DC guitar, which he's been playing for 13 years. put a national, and eventually international, spotlight [on Chicago]." That's exactly what Rice is doing as the city's Director of Creative Industries-Music, which is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. One of his first major initiatives comes to fruition this month with the inaugural Chicago Music Summit, an expo that Rice hopes will put Chicago's music industry on the map the way South by Southwest has done for Austin. The one-day conference will feature more than 20 panel discussions for people working in music and a lineup of evening shows for the public. It's easy to see why Rice is so invested in the music industry. "I grew up playing Hear here: "I love piano and guitar and singing along to U2 The Green Mill, records," he says. "I was writing songs for The Hideout, and the piano when I was 7 and entering them Lincoln Hall. The Museum of in contests." After college he performed Contemporary Art under various names and released two solo also has amazing albums, eventually playing Chicago area concerts." venues and opening once for Paula Cole. Local lure: "I feel And though it's hard to imagine such a crelucky that I can get ative type behind a desk in the Loop office any kind of food here and any kind of DCASE, Rice feels otherwise. "I defiof music. There's nitely get my creative ya-yas out with my just this authenticband—that's key," he says, referring to local ity to Chicago." band Software Giant, for which he sings lead vocals (and which will soon be releasing its first album). "But I get to work and meet artists and creative people all the time [through my current job]. This is very fulfilling." Rice is the local point of contact for anyone with questions about or interests in Chicago's music scene, and local emerging artists couldn't have a better resource. "I've lived and breathed [this industry]," Rice says. "I've worn all the hats, I've made some mistakes, and I've learned the hard way. I empathize with a lot of artists who are trying to do it. So I'm hoping my experience as an artTHE CITY OF CHICAGO'S NEW GURU OF MUSIC SINGS THE ist is informing my experience in government." PRAISES OF THE LOCAL SCENE. BY ELLE EICHINGER The Chicago Music Summit is just one small part of Rice's plan for the Department of Music, and he sees e may not be a Chicago native, but when it comes to music, Dylan no end to what can be done by Chicagoans in the industry. But the Rice is the Windy City's biggest cheerleader. "The level of diversity message he most wants to communicate is simple: "I just keep tooting the and innovation in the musical ecosystem is truly unique to local horn," he states. "Support your local musicians—they could use Chicago," enthuses Rice, who grew up in Salt Lake City and moved to the your help." The Chicago Music Summit takes place on September 20. To Midwest to attend Northwestern in the mid-'90s. "That's good reason to register, visit chicagomusicsummit.org MA INSIGHT H PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATRINA WITTKAMP Dylan Rice 64 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 064_MA_SP_TP_Dylan_Sept13.indd 64 8/7/13 1:18 PM

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