Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad Cox.
Hi Brad, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Mouthful of Graffiti podcast was born out of COVID, depression, misdirection, and curiosity. As an active musician and author in the Baltimore creative scene for nearly three decades, I have met and networked with an array of amazingly talented original artists, bookers, attorneys, club owners, writers, visual artists, theater professionals, and more.
When the world ground to a halt, I wanted to be proactive and start reaching out to some of those creatives to share their stories. Five years later, the Mouthful of Graffiti podcast is still going strong.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Unlike most of my ventures, it has actually been relatively smooth sailing. As a journalism major from Towson University, interviewing guests almost came second nature. At the time, there weren’t many podcasts in the area focusing on music, arts, and entertainment. It really was like catching lightning in a bottle, and I’m forever grateful to the community for supporting the show and making it possible.
A few years ago, the show expanded to a live podcast format hosted at REB Records in Bel Air, Maryland. We’re now in our third season. It has become a staple for local, original artists to be interviewed, perform in front of a live audience, and tell the stories behind their songs.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a writer. Whether it’s music, books, blogs, or podcasting, I’m a writer.
At the core of my being, I’m an artist and a creative. Since the ’90s, I’ve been pumping my music out under various project and band names, such as Skitzo Calypso, We Love the Underground, Niki Thunders, and Veteran Avenue. At one point, I waded into the waters of being an author and released a trilogy of books called Children of the Program. Along the way, I’ve also provided vocals, melodies, and my musicianship to various local projects. There has been a lot of creativity, collaboration, and art being made. I think that’s what I want my legacy to be.
I think the thing I’m most proud of is the living diary of my works across various album formats. The Veteran Avenue album, ‘Dissonance in Discord,’ may be my summit and the record I’m most proud of. I also have a new album coming out this winter that’s sure to be a favorite in the canon.
How do you define success?
Success is being able to do what you want without barriers and to be who you want to be unapologetically. It’s when you’ve communicated to the world, “This is me. This is what I’m going to do. Get on board or get lost.” You can have that attitude, but it’s not truly realized or even defined until time and tenacity reinforce it through your collective actions. I truly feel free creatively, and to me, that is the ultimate form of success. I don’t need to be somebody-I already am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/mouthfulofgraffiti
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/mouthfulofgraffiti
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MouthfulofGraffiti
