Go Beyond the Artist in this week’s feature with Adam Levin of Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center, exploring the essential role of the local music store, in this series as we highlight the individuals and organizations that are amplifying the DMV music community, often from behind the scenes.
“Everyone loves a star!” Or, so I’ve heard the saying.
In past times, the complete view of the team of people that worked to bring an artist to the national or internation stage was mostly obscured; the wizards behind the curtain that you need “pay no attention to.” With the rise of the DIY music industry came the global stardom of Taylor Swift. Her manager at this time, Rick Barker, is widely credited with putting the pieces into play that elevated her to stardom. Swift’s starpower brought a certain level of awareness to her fans about the layers of support that exist beyond the artist, and a new appreciation for managers, producer, engineers, tour managers, merch managers, and all the departments and individuals on down the line.
For many musicians, an artist lights the spark that begins the musical journey sending them on the path to confirm their instrument or instruments and the course of study. If those newly inspired composers and songwriters are lucky, they will have found their way to a local music store, which for many is akin to a place of worship with some attending more than once a week. Having spent some time behind the counter of a music store myself, I can tell you there are few greater feelings than to uncover the root of what a musician is looking for and be able to guide them to the right piece of equipment to help them achieve their sound. These are meant to be places to share ‘war’ stories with other musicians and provide an educational foundation through tips & tricks and workshops, and networking resources for providing opportunities when they arise.
Adam Levin considers himself the new guy at Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center even though he’s been in the position for about 13 years of it’s 65 year history as the region’s quintessential music store, which has been open since 1958 and was relocated to Wheaton, Maryland when the first location was consumed in a fire. It might surprise you to learn that the Levin’s family are not themselves “musically inclined,” not even Chuck himself. He goes on to say, “My father, my aunt, my uncle, they don’t play anything, but I guess we are, well, I guess we think we are cool by attachment of being around the music industry without ever having actually played an instrument.”
He isn’t wrong. Thanks again to fan awareness amidst a highly evolving and volatile industry, it’s essential identify all the aspects that contribute toward growing and maintaining true community. This is true everywhere, but perhaps moreso for the DMV music scene, which has developed a number of organizations and initiatives that feel ready to burst globally. It would be unthinkable that Chuck Levin’s hasn’t made some mark or lasting impression on the DC metropolitan area.
Adam’s confession observes that not performing an instrument does nothing to diminish one’s potential passion for or contribution to music, or the music industry in some way.
“I come in with more of a mechanical, math, brain, music, is how I like to think of things, but I think in electrical engineering and stuff like that. So, I love the math of music and the way that it all works together.”
In fact, more and more kinds of instruments, controllers, and software are being developed every day to allow creative expression in an audio environment for exactly these kinds of thinkers. However, even if you are of a similar mind to Adam, he is an example of the necessity for those who might simply consider themselves “fans” of music to find their own place in the musical ecosystem. From major festivals, venues, and manufacturers on down, the concept of socio-economic impacts and environmental sustainability are at the heart of their endeavors. I’d argue again that it’s because of the level of importance to fans, many of whom are also musicians themselves (from hobbyists to seasoned professionals).
As the industry and technology & tools evolve, perhaps more folks who felt they never had access to this kind of creative outlet will discover a way, and bridge the gap between these seemingly dissimilar kinds of thinkers. So too must the local music store and the knowledge of the staff evolve, as well as how it engages with the community; and I’m not just talking online or on social media. The local music store is in a unique position of serving many artists before they rise to fame, and can continue to be a way to maintain ties with artists from outside the region, or who have moved away.
As the industry and technology & tools evolve, perhaps more folks who felt they never had access to this kind of creative outlet will discover a way, and bridge the gap between these seemingly dissimilar kinds of thinkers. So too must the local music store and the knowledge of the staff evolve, as well as how it engages with the community; and I’m not just talking online or on social media. The local music store is in a unique position of serving many artists before they rise to fame, and can continue to be a way to maintain ties with artists from outside the region, or who have moved away.
As outlined in the interview with Adam, Stevie Wonder; Lizzo; John Mayer; and even Kanye West all have ties to the DMV music scene thanks to a family-driven operation just outside the D.C. Beltway. What is important about that is the potential Adam sees in each and every customer to be the next artist we all can’t stop talking about.
“We never know who is coming in the door and who they’re going to be 20 years from now,” Adam notes, “but the moments they have here could change everything.” Many artists who have these experiences send letters, pictures, or post cards containing these accounts.
The impact of the organization isn’t just present on the artist level. On this site we’ve mentioned the contributions of Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center to organizations like DC Music Summit and Down In The Reeds Festival. They also regularly contribute to the annual DC Funk Parade and other events and organizatons making incredible strides within the music community that support the artists and infrastructure of the scene. Being a resource while remembering “Music is a happy business,” has resulted in a number of notable contributions and achievements and appears to have been a winning formula as the business celebrates its 65th year.
“We need tools to make music, or at least be creative, or they’re mechanisms through which that we can be creative. And so having access to those, knowing what’s out there, being able to touch these things, see these things, a music store can be an important part of a musician’s journey”
And indeed it is.
Watch the full interview with Adam Levin.
Let Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center become a part of your journey. Contact them online via https://www.chucklevins.com
Daniel Warren Hill is an American musician, writer, and motivational speaker. He is best known as the frontman for Washington DC area Alternative Rock band YellowTieGuy, as co-founder of Capitol Groove Collective, and increasing the exposure of artists on a global scale through his work with Alchemical Records.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
