By GANNON HANEVOLD
Moapa Valley Progress
Over the years, MVHS students have proven their skills in a variety of arts. From visual to the musical, there have been many talents to walk the halls of MVHS. The growth of music in pop culture has been exponential in the last decade, and some recent MVHS alumni are attempting to leave their own mark on the music world.
Cody McCracken, who graduated from MVHS in 2009, released his first official album in 2017, Quarter Life Crisis, under the alias ‘Dak’.
“Growing up in a small town allowed me to be pretty tight-knit with different groups who all had different tastes in music,” he said in regards to Moapa Valley’s influence on his music. “I’d like to think this helps influence the music I make, and I try to utilize that influence to not just stay in the box of one specific genre.”
McCracken also highlighted the challenges that come with being a self-sufficient artist. He explained, “Because music is something I’m very passionate about, it does take a great deal of courage to put something out there for others to judge.”
McCracken works closely with Matthew ‘Skwirl’ Johnson, who graduated in 2008. Johnson took a slightly different path in the music field, including providing DJ services for live events around southern Nevada.
“It’s hard to nail down a specific moment when I wanted to monetize this love because it’s an evolving process as well as a multi-faceted problem,” Johnson explained. “As time goes on I find myself constantly redefining my interests.”
In advising aspiring musicians, Johnson added, “Don’t do it alone. Friends are key. Surround yourself with people that have similar interests and goals. All these things probably sound cliche but they will position you and help you get to where you want to be.”
2012 MVHS graduate Branson Anderson, whose album Graydog released in April 2017, spoke on how music made him feel when he was younger. “I was good at music. It gave me relevance, and it made me feel good about myself, so I decided as a teenager that was what I wanted to pursue,” Anderson commented.
Anderson is currently working on yet another album, and he said he expects it might be his greatest music achievement thus far.
Music can be a way to channel the many complex emotions that come with the teenage years. For those who are lucky and hardworking enough, it can be channeled into a career as well. McCracken, Anderson, and Johnson represent just a small cross-section of those that have succeeded in the art of music from this valley. There are sure to be more to follow in their footsteps.
