Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Mengani.
Anna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey as a music journalist started during the pandemic in 2020. As a junior at The College of Staten Island and as a musician, there was a huge lack of in-person opportunities during this time and expectedly so. The only opportunity I could find was remotely writing about music.
My first internship was awful. I was expected to write 5 articles a week as a full-time student, and very few of my articles were published. Instead of receiving genuine feedback, I was told my journalistic writing was not good, and one of my articles was published without giving me the credit for writing it. After 3 months of arguing with my boss to give me actual feedback instead of belittling me and my work, I quit the internship and was turned off from writing for a year. I found my love for journalism again this year in 2022, I began contributing to music websites again for a few months after a 1-year hiatus from music journalism due to my past internship. I decided to start my publication for a variety of reasons.
After a few months of writing, I decided to start my publication. I felt there was a lack of my voice in my articles after being edited and a lack of choice on what musicians I could cover at times. I aimed to make a publication where everyone feels welcomed and like they have a say in what they write about and how they choose to write stylistically. I also wanted to create a publication where musicians get the press they deserve without the anxiety of if it’s going to be harsh or not.
As a musician myself, and the co-founder being a musician as well it is very difficult to be vulnerable in music and have to also worry about what other people may criticize you for. We are a publication that strives to uplift our volunteers and the musicians we cover, not downgrade them.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a very new publication, of course, there have been struggles! I am currently a part-time graduate student at NYU and the co-founder Jacob works full-time and is also in a band. With all the work we have to do, sometimes it’s hard to take a breather, but we have a goal in mind so we keep pushing forward.
Myself, as a new entrepreneur and without guidance so far, it’s been difficult trying to create an organized and unique publication that stands out. We are still in the works of figuring out how to better coordinate, especially in a remote setting and how we can stand out and create a unique identity in the magazine world.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in writing articles and editing at Noise Disrup-bution Magazine. I also conduct interviews and assist with graphic design! Aside from that, as I stated before I am a musician. More specifically I am an audio engineer, sound designer, film scorer, and pianist. I am most proud of how much momentum the publication has had in so little time and how many people are interested in working with us! It’s been an insane and inspiring journey so far and I hope to continue.
What sets Noise Disrup-bution apart is we highlight local and underrepresented artists who come from minority backgrounds such as being POC and LGBTQIA+. We also highlight the musician’s perspective and strive to create empathy and not criticism about the music we review. We know how much time, energy, emotions, and dedication it takes to create a song, let alone an album so we always want to ensure we are creating celebratory and encouraging reviews.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice would be to branch out! As someone juggling both the music and media industry, NETWORKING IS EVERYTHING. These industries are about who you know, how you know them, and where this connection can take you. It’s very important that you network linear, not just upward. This means, networking with your classmates and people in the same place career-wise as you.
If you are in school, please use all the resources you can and get involved in your areas of interest. Whether it’s a hobby or career you never know who you’re going to meet. The ways I found a mentor were through programs like Grammy U, and programs at my school like NYU Switch. There are tons of music programs I’ve seen with mentorship programs like She is The Music, Diversify The Stage, Unlock Her Potential, etc.
In terms of networking, there are so many amazing music organizations like The Digilogue, Amplify Her Voice, Girls Behind The Rock Show, and so much more. Make use of the events going on in your area as well. All it takes is meeting 1 person to open up your network to many more people. Another tip is to use social media, especially Instagram, Linkedin, and Discord. Social media is here for a reason, so be social and good luck!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.noisedisrupbutionmag.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noisedisrupbution/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noisedisrupbutionmag/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiEcd22iYNO5m1HlTy5R4lA
- Other: https://braid.network/noisedisrupbutionmag
