The DJ Takeover sponsored by Level Up is a program for listeners to discover their favorite artist's favorite artists, working to foster connection to the music and makers inside and outside our city. For the entire hour, we go down the rabbit hole of stories from their past, experiences of the present and goals for the future.
Photographer, artist and vice president of Cactus+, Samer Ghani speaks to the importance of resilience and grit in Milwaukee but why we shouldn’t need to rely on it.
At his core, Ghani is a storyteller. His first love was music — until he realized no one was capturing the incredible music his friends made. His skills have been honed over the last 10 years as he photographed the live scene in Milwaukee, and on March 25 he’ll release a book containing those labors of love: Memories of a Streetcat, which documents artists such as Klassik, NilexNile, Soul Low and Sista Strings.
The reflection of Milwaukee art in Ghani’s work is a blinding reminder of the hometown creativity and perseverance we hold most dear. But while it's easy to feel pride in our city because of these creatives, he challenges us to enable artists further, as “making the best of it” is too often part of the Milwaukee artist’s story.
“Milwaukee has unlimited potential, unlike other cities that are already defined by the things they have been doing,” Ghani told me. “Milwaukee’s in a really unique situation where we can be defined by the things we’re going to do. … Artists play a large role in that conversation.”
As he has grown into new avenues as a creative, Ghani’s taking the moment to reflect. “I’m just kind of floating right now, but not in a careless way, I’m kind of enjoying letting the light hit my face for just a moment before I make another move.”
Luckily for us, when the sun hits Ghani’s face, it seems to brighten those around him as well.
Memories of a Streetcat is accompanied by a free-to-attend release show at Cactus Club on March 25 that includes live music from featured local artists Klassik, Garden Home, Living Room, Known Moons and El Sebas.
DJ Takeover: Samer Ghani playlist
- Rage Against the Machine, “Bulls on Parade”
- Turnover, “Super Natural”
- Mannequin Pussy, “Loud Bark”
- The Story So Far, “Badluck”
- Angels & Airwaves, “Start the Machine”
- Versio Curs, “Lafayette”
- Mike Krol, “Power Chords”
- Paramore, “That's What You Get”
- Ladybird, “Old Fashioned"
