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1. Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Cindy Lawson, MMR: Minnesota has been fighting hard for the last few months. It’s been a very long winter.
Kent Militzer -MILITZËR, MMR: Feeling pretty exhausted from the last few months tbh. It felt like we were living in another reality for a few months. Still feels odd, but the presence of the invaders isn’t as open and obvious.
Megan O’Neal -MMR: Been okay. It’s a weird balancing act, trying to maintain a normal daily equilibrium of am I okay/what’s on fire/what’s for dinner in the face of the chaos and devastation in the world. Grateful for the occasional opportunities to eke out some joy and meaning an connection to make it all feel worth doing.
2. Minnesota Music Resistance was born out of urgency—can you take us back to the moment when this collective first came together and what sparked its creation?
Cindy Lawson, MMR: All credit there goes to “Front Row” Paul Engebretson, who phoned me on November 12, 2024 and told me how he felt we needed to form a group to fight against the incoming president.
Kent Militzer -MILITZËR, MMR: Our founder Front Row Paul Engebretson was the one that pulled a bunch of us together so that we could do SOMETHING/ANYTHING to push back against the authoritarianism that we knew was coming. I don’t think any of us at the time thought it would be this incredibly bad. But we all knew we had to do something. And since music is our thing we wanted to push back with music.
Megan O’Neal -MMR: It was Paul. One guy with a huge heart who just wanted to retire and revel in his beloved music scene. But when “that guy” was reelected, our Paul (Engebretsen, aka Front Row Paul) was moved to do something. No one really knew what something was going to look like, but doing nothing didn’t seem like an option. So Paul brought some people together and said we’ve got to do something, and we all looked around, looked at each other, took stock of what we had to offer and here we are. Paul passed away back when we were just getting started. It’s shocking to think how much worse things got between then and now.
3. “Big Hopes of Mid-America, Vol. 1” feels like more than just a compilation—it’s a statement. What message were you hoping to send with this project?
Cindy Lawson, MMR: Our message is that what is happening to us is not normal-we need to rise up and let our communities know that we are fighting for them.
Kent Militzer -MILITZËR, MMR: It is a statement! We are not backing down. There is strength in diversity and community. We refuse to give up hope for a better nation and a better world.
Megan O’Neal -MMR: Hope’s the biggest thing for me. The name of the compilation is a nod to a notable compilation series from the 1960s (and revived in the 1980s) called Big Hits of Mid-America, showcasing musicians from Minnesota and the Midwest. We modified it to reflect the spirit in which it was compiled— outrage at the current state of affairs and hope for a better future. It’s a through line of Minnesota music with artists creating songs that bring people together the way church and the nightly news used to for many of our grandparents.
4. The album brings together a wide range of artists and genres—how did you approach curating such a diverse and unified lineup?
Cindy Lawson, MMR: There is so much talent in Minnesota – it was so easy to find people wanting to participate.
Kent Militzer -MILITZËR, MMR: It was a blast putting this together. Being reminded yet again that there is so much talent here in MN! We are thrilled that this can represent a small slice of it. That’s the diverse part. The unified part is that we all refuse to be silent in demanding better for our country.
Megan O’Neal -MMR: One of my favorite records of all time is radio K stuck on am volume 2. It’s a surprisingly eclectic collection of mostly Minnesota music that was happening at a point in time (1999). This compilation is an attempt to bring together as much of a musical spectrum as we could – we’re hoping that is a volume 2 is in the works, we get even greater diversity.
5. Music has always played a role in protest and social change. How do you see this compilation fitting into that larger historical tradition?
Cindy Lawson, MMR: We are here to raise our voices against fascism-and we are part of a lineage of protest songs that goes back for eons.
Kent Militzer – MILITZËR, MMR: I wasn’t really thinking about the historical tradition when we came up with the idea. But sometimes musicians, comedians, artists of all kinds are driven to speak out and this is the time we find ourselves in. So what are we going to do about it? All the people on this compilation refuse to be silent and refuse to comply in advance. So we do what we can. We sing about it (or in my case we channel it through a slide guitar).
Jim Gruidl: I see this compilation as a snapshot in time. An immense collection of music pulled together in very short amount of time with a sense of urgency that says “I hope its not too late” I have a son who is 17 and i told him that when he’s 70 someone will come and ask him what it was like to be alive at this time. It’s going to take 50 years to unpack everything that’s happening now, and how it happened. This collection of songs will be part of the history, along with citizen video and archived news accounts.
Megan O’Neal -MMR: Sadly, it’s a rich time for protest songs. Circumstances have intensified and the wrongness of the situation is becoming more apparent – and more painful – to more people.
Deidre Caron – Thirteen Howell: It’s important for the nation to hear the musical perspective of this place. If they understand the music of this place, they will better understand the people and the mindset that shutdown a federal occupation that was terrorizing friends, colleagues, neighbors, families and loved ones. They will understand the organizational power the people have of helping one another through a really tough time. There was no teeth pulling to get musicians to offer up their songs for this project. That generosity, is a reflection of Minnesota values. It’s well and good that world wide acts have brought attention to the issues facing our state and the country but the residents of this state have something to say. The residents need to be heard as well. Many of these songs may have been in the artists set list for a few years now. The artists may have recorded it a while ago but the message is relevant and in the present moment.
6. All proceeds are going toward supporting local communities and human rights efforts—how important was it for this project to have a tangible, real-world impact?
Cindy Lawson, MMR: Again, that’s Paul Engebretson. We do this for him. He wanted change and he wanted results.
Kent Militzer -MILITZËR, MMR: That was the idea right from the start. How can we help those in need? We decided to concentrate on the many people that would be under attack by this conservative administration. Most of it comes down to equality. Treating other people as you would want to be treated. That’s not something this administration or the orange cult believes in. “We all do better when we all do better.” – Paul Wellstone
Jim Gruidl : As a contributor it was important to know the proceeds were going to help the community at large. I didn’t get into music to get rich, but I’m finding out that I did get into it to help others.
Megan O’Neal -MMR: Honestly for me, the real world impact I was hoping this compilation would have isn’t monetary. I see it as a way to amplify the musical voices that help us all process what’s going on around us. These songs put words to the anguish and distress we can’t help but feel when confronting the civil rights and common decency violations happening around us. I want people to know we’re all in this together. I want people to feel hope. If we can direct some funds to organizations who are making a difference with people most affected by the hatred and intolerance that has crept its way into our highest offices, that just gives the hope stronger roots
7. The listening party at the Hook & Ladder Theater is being framed as a gathering, not just an event—what does community look like to you in this moment?
Cindy Lawson, MMR: Our community is more dear to me than ever. We have been in a literal war zone – we stand up for each other.
Kent Militzer -MILITZËR, MMR: Community is SO important! The community here and music has been what has kept me and a lot of us sane through these past few months. We are all in this together! So grateful to live in a place like the Twin Cities with so many like minded people. Like minded people that get it! That care about their neighbors and their city.
Jim Gruidl: A community gathering is just what the doctor ordered. The way we’ll be defeated is through isolation and despair. Sharing music and a laugh with others is a great panacea against the everyday onslaught of bullshit being thrown at us by the people in power.
Megan O’Neal -MMR: I want to see people connecting with each other over music and a shared vision of a better world. It goes right back to what Paul had in mind when he pulled this group together. Particularly in Minnesota, community looks like individuals stepping out of their day to day, taking the time to remember our neighbors and remembering that freedom takes constant vigilance — it’s like we’re in a car with bad wheel alignment that just keeps pulling to the right. I want the community experience— of the listening party, of listening to the compilation, of seeing your favorite bands talk about the cause, to reinforce people’s sense that things can be better, and to provide some ways to take action.
Deidre Caron – Thirteen Howell: Community is a large group of people who love music, support one another’s art and share a set of values and experiences. Gathering in person is a strong antidote to feeling alone in this moment. Gathering and celebrating this project in person, is one way to share joy and time with one another and joy is an act of resistance.
8. There’s a strong sense of collaboration across not just musicians, but engineers, writers, and fans—how has that broader music ecosystem contributed to MMR’s mission?
Cindy Lawson, MMR: You wouldn’t be able to swing a dead cat in this town without hitting a great artist! Maybe it’s because during the winter we all stay inside and work on our art.
Kent Militzer -MILITZËR, MMR: The MSP music scene is so tight. Sure there’s competition, but there’s a real community here. Musicians, fans, artists of all different stripes. Whenever I meet a new musician it is usually only a few minutes into the conversation we find out “You know them? I was in a band with them!” And something like this feels like the whole community is pushing towards the same goal.
Jim Gruidl: If you took the founders of the MMR and played “six degrees of separation” you would touch almost every every musician, engineer, venue/club employee, writer, publisher etc. it is a very small percentage of people in the arts who aren’t united in this common cause.
Megan O’Neal -MMR: Don’t forget DJs!
9. In a time where digital connection often replaces physical spaces, how important is it to create in-person experiences like this listening event?
Cindy Lawson, MMR: Very important-and I hope people show up!
Kent Militzer – MILITZËR, MMR: Nothing can replace face to face. Live music is the best. There is no substitute. And community is the same. No Zoom call can replace a smile, a handshake, a hug, and a pat on the back!
Megan O’Neal -MMR: Digital connections are becoming our default. Whether we realize it or not, digital spaces are inhabited by these weird self-imagined personas that let us hide behind. It’s easy to take that as license to treat other people in ways we never would if had to look them in the eye and confront their humanity. Getting together in person reminds us of what’s important and las the groundwork for real connections and collaboration.
Deidre Caron – Thirteen Howell: There is no replacement for face to face connection and sharing of art. Hanging out in a practice space all alone with just your bandmates can be a really productive experience and fun. But for some reason, playing something in front of an audience makes the art experience complete. Performing or gathering gives real time feedback that is invaluable information to the musician. Does the song elicit response? Actively listening and take something into your mind and ears as an audience member with others in the room demands something of the listener. It demands something from the musician as well.
10. The compilation spans everything from punk to folk to full-band anthems—how do different genres help express different forms of resistance?
Cindy Lawson, MMR: We may sound different, but we all agree on basic civil rights and humanity.
Kent Militzer -MILITZËR, MMR: That’s one of the great things about music. There is something for everyone! There is no right answer. The punk rock stuff is maybe more in your face, where some of the other sounds are a little more subtle. But the bottom line is we all want accountability and a system that works for all of us, not just the entitled few.
Jim Gruidl: The fact that there are may different genres all expressing the same message is a testament to how important the message is. Maybe there could be an alternate collection where the folkies cover the hard rock tune and vice versa
11. This is labeled as Volume 1—what’s next for Minnesota Music Resistance, and how do you see this movement evolving moving forward?
Cindy Lawson, MMR: We hope to spread this message far and wide on behalf of Paul. We won’t back down.
Kent Militzer – MILITZËR, MMR: What’s next after the listening party is our second live event on May 1 at The Hook and Ladder in S Minneapolis to raise money for the ACLU. Then we start working on Big Hopes Volume 2. 🙂
Megan O’Neal -MMR: We purposely called this volume 1 — both as a nod to the original series, Big Hits of Mid-America (volumes 1 – 4) but also to keep the door open for more. Several artists have approached us and said, hey I’ve got a song for your compilation! We’d love to be able to release another volume, have another listening party, get more people inspired and connected and most of all, keep the big hopes of mid-America alive and fighting for what’s right.
Website: https://minnesotamusicresistance.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minnesotamusicresistance/
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