There’s an underrated creative scene in Nashville – from podcasts to music to art to comedy to fiction and writing and shops and….yikes, I could go on and on. The whole nine – but for some fucking reason, all we seem to want to celebrate at the national level is country music and hot chicken. Well, we’re putting our foot down.
We’ve had the pleasure of working and creating alongside some of the city’s finest creators. We’ve grown to appreciate the scene, and being apart of the creative community in Nashville has led us into several friendships that we wouldn’t otherwise have. Not to get too sappy, but fuck – that’s kind of a beautiful thing, no?
Creating is often a thankless job and a passion project. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and consistency to produce something that attracts people. It takes relentless ambition and heart to build a following. It is out of that spirit that I decided I wanted to honor those who are putting in the work to make Nashville’s creative scene a better place.
The SoBros team sat down and hashed out the nominees, and we reached out to some of the closest friends of the brand (and the wide open world of Twitter) to help us. All in all, we heard from about 30 different people, and compiled a list of over 70 different groups/individuals. Ultimately, we had to whittle it down to eight nominees.
This is your inaugural class for the SoBros Network Nashville Creators Award.
Our 2020 Nashville Creators Award Nominees
Blame Your Brother – Twitter – Talkin’ Nashville, current events, society, and just about everything in between, Blame Your Brother has been one of the longest running podcasts in the Music City (they’re on episode 211 as of this writing). This year, they took on the bold task of live-streaming for 24 hours straight. Not only did they nail it, but they raised $1,500 for St. Jude in the process. Good good shit, boys.
Bliss Cortez – Instagram – “my personal choice is Bliss Cortez (they/them pronouns); y’all have probably seen me mention the Bliss & the Trash Plants project a few times, but Bliss brings so much art and vibrancy to Nashville’s LGBTQ community and produces The Moth over at the ol Basement East, often going above and beyond to make sure stories from marginalized folks are front and center.” -Anonymous friend of the brand
Bussin’ With The Boys – Twitter – The Boys unquestionably have one of the most entertaining podcasts in Nashville. When I first started poking around and asking friends for nominations, Bussin’ With The Boys was one of two names that popped up repeatedly. They seem to have won the city over with their blend of relatable personalities and let-loose vibes. Also, worth shouting this team out for taking home the 2019 ‘Spirit of Nashville’ Award a year ago.
Football & Other F Words – Twitter – Football & Other F Words is the premiere Tennessee Titans podcast in Nashville, and that’s coming from a guy who hosts a Titans podcast. The show is loaded with snark and sarcasm, but the crew doesn’t hesitate to get into the weeds when covering the Titans on the field. There’s no better blend of analysis and fun in the Titans podsphere.
Olivia Frankenstein – Instagram – “Olivia Frankenstein is a two person creative team based out of Nashville. They cater to the creeps of the world who enjoy a little bit of color with their Halloween and horror garb. Crystal and Marc have grown their company into a community staple, and it comes to no surprise for people like me who have a closet full of their shirts and sweaters. Olivia Frankenstein even snagged the award for Best Etsy Shop for the Nashville Scene. They keep it light, fun, and most importantly, spooky. Check our their Etsy shop or find their merch in a few local shops around town. Hail and The Groove Records both carry Olivia Frankenstein.” -Brittany Fernandez
MusicShitty – Instagram – There isn’t a social media account in existence that exemplifies the angst of the jaded local Nashvillian (real local) better than MusicShitty. It feels like MusicShitty unites us all with one big inside joke that the tourists and bachelorettes aren’t in on. If meme therapy is a real thing, then MusicShitty can keep any Nashville native sane.
The Shenom – Twitch – “Kayla started her Twitch channel during quarantine. Streaming is already a highly competitive industry to get into, especially in current times, but she is putting in the work! She already has over 1,100 followers and last month she mentioned hitting the 200 subs mark (that’s a monthly subscription where fans can pay to support her and unlock certain benefits on her channel). Her social media presence, style, and charming positive attitude are and will continue to be the keys to her success.” -Rooster
Also, I mentioned earlier that Bussin’ With The Boys was one of a couple of names that popped up repeatedly throughout this process….Kayla’s was the other one.
E. Young – Work – Instagram – “One of those writer types” doesn’t really cover it. E is as dynamic and thoughtful of a writer as you’ll find in Nashville, writing everything from (but not limited to) horror/sci-fi short fiction to the Babadook as a gay pride icon (and yes, that was in Rolling Stone, humble brag). E’s work is a testament to the creative spirit. Oh, and don’t forget to buy the eBook.
To vote on this one, be sure to log into your Google account and then hit up the Google Form here. Don’t worry – it’s completely anonymous. All we know is a raw number of how many votes each nominee got and that’s it. Happy Awards SZN.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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