Have you ever wondered who is writing about so many artists and bands? Well here it is, an insider’s view of who we are, why we do this, and what keeps us going:
First up, Mike Abiuso, Founder of SwitchBitch Noise
Hey, Mike Abiuso here! I first started SwitchBitch Noise as an extension of what was a larger entity comprising a record label and recording studio, but since, the blog has quickly become the primary focus of the SwitchBitch umbrella as passionate team members took interest and came together to share their mutual love and support of music and the industry. For some, it’s less a hobby and more a necessity to survive and communicate in the world by way of expression through music and for that very reason, I am extremely grateful to be able to provide such a beautiful and meaningful platform.
Ali Brant, Magazine Director
Ever since I can remember, music has been the most important thing in my life, aside from family and friends of course. Born and raised in South Jersey, I grew up in the perfect location to catch all my favorite artists performing in venues around Philadelphia. I also developed (pun intended) a love of photography at a very early age, prompting my parents to buy me one of the very first digital cameras on the market because that ultimately saved them money on film. After hitting a few live shows, I decided to sneak my camera into venues that didn’t ban photography, and combine my love of music with capturing memories. After a lot of practice and self-teaching, I started requesting photo passes instead of just shooting from the audience, which is how I ended up coming in contact with the incredibly talented Mike Abiuso, our magazine’s founder. Mike graciously trusted me to come on board as part of the team, and I’ve been a contributing photographer and writer ever since and then took on being Magazine Director as well. Back in 2018, my husband and I relocated to Florida, so I now cover the Orlando area. Although I am not able to get out to shows as often as I’d like due to several chronic health issues, SwitchBitch Noise provides me with a creative outlet to preserve my sanity as I navigate those medical challenges. The photo pit is one of my favorite places to be, as there’s nothing quite like that feeling when one of your favorite bands finally emerges on stage and everything else fades away. My role on the team has given me the strength to cope with chronic illness in a more positive way. I’m very grateful for all of the connections I’ve made in the media world over the years, and I look forward to many more!
Josh Nelson, Music Journalist
Josh Nelson of Rochester, NY is a fan of tabletop gaming, the theatre (spelled specifically with an “-re”), and, perhaps more relevant, music of all manner of genres (yes, even Chicken Yodeling – all respect to Takeo Ischi!). They got their start in music appreciation through a small community theatre company in the Rockaways, and everything spiraled outward, positively, from there. They owe a lot of their musical tastes to bands like My Chemical Romance, Pink Floyd, and Jethro Tull, all remarkably dramatic groups in their own right.
Britt Bender, Music Journalist
I was born in South Carolina but I’ve lived all over the country in my childhood. I’ve been living life in Upstate NY for some time now, both in high school and college and the present day. I grew up in an evangelical belief system for most of my childhood into my sophomore year of high school. Lots of bands helped me break out of that, even some from within the community such as Relient K. Bands that inspired me growing up include but aren’t limited to: My Chemical Romance, REO Speedwagon, Boston, Queen, The Beach Boys, Foo Fighters, ABBA, Ramones, Pierce the Veil, Ninja Sex Party, and Ice Nine Kills.
I’ve always been a sort of introvert in many ways so I wasn’t a part of any specific scene but I’ve always found myself with the alternative crowd. In high school, my friends and I would go to local concerts when we were able to. We saw bands like 30H!3, Framing Hanley, Rocket to the Moon, Never Shout Never, and many more. Being both a writer and photographer, there’s so much of both that I love. As a writer, I love when I am able to bring what I sense visually to whatever I write and I’m always a fan of writing in the realm of comedy and/or horror. As a photographer, I’m obsessed with taking black-and-white photos but I also love the ability to experiment with my photos in my digital artwork.
I’d love to shout out the online community of neurodivergent folks on Twitch. There’s an excellent presence of streamers who do “body-doubling” streams that help me and many others with ADHD in our productivity and self-esteem. A specific streamer I follow who has made a difference in my life and creative pursuits would be OOPmarie.
My goals for the future still include writing and photography. I hope to continue to expand my writing and photography clientele, both on my own site and elsewhere. Besides that, I’m excited to continue my life with my partner and best friend who has always been my number one supporter and cheerleader.
Emme Oliver, Music and Film Reviewer
Hi I’m Emme! I’m a film major at The New School but I’ve always had a deep connection with alternative rock music! Some of my favorite bands include My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, and Paramore as well as some crazy talented smaller bands The Wrecks, Deal Casino, and Between Thorns. I’m always writing and creating and in addition to my work for SBN, I am an entertainment writer for popculturepress.org. I’ve also had some fiction work published and have made and starred in a few short films. I write because it heals and inspires in the most adverse times and I truly believe in the power of creative outlets.
Suzanne Torrison, Music Journalist
Hi, I’m Suzanne Torrison and I write reviews and interviews for SwitchBitch Noise, highlighting artists of all kinds of musical genres and stages in their careers. Through writing about music, I take a deeper dive into how an artist thinks, what inspires them, and there is nothing more fulfilling in life than assisting an artist get their art and message into the world. Whether it is about love, disappointment, a difficult time in their life, or pure joy, I want to be a part of their storytelling. SwitchBitch Noise will always be a safe space for the arts and music making.
