We recently connected with Stacey MacLeod and have shared our conversation below.

Stacey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I never though of “pursuing a professional path” as an artist. To me, putting it in that language, makes it seem like a business deal, rather than the spiritual path that visual art and playing music is in my life.

When I was a little girl, I loved to sing. My mom reminds me that the older neighbors, who lived across the street from us, often asked if I could come over and sing to them on their porch. I remember singing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” When I hear that song today, it makes me feel the thrill and magic I felt of my early childhood performances. As I got older, I was inspired by Cyndi Lauper and I loved the power of her voice. I studied opera in high school and I started playing in bands in college. I am a self-taught guitarist and I mostly play aggressive rhythm guitar, because of my informal practice.

I have used visual art to understand who I am and express my fantasies, also since childhood. I used to draw mansions and fashion designs, as a girl, and sometimes even scandalous, naked pictures. I was very secretive about my visual art, when I was young. My mom liked to belittle me, so I hid my projects in my closet. One time I cut up a Tide laundry detergent box and then glued it back together–and hid it in my closet. I wanted to be like Andy Warhol. I wore a tie to be like him too. In college, I studied drawing and photography. My current mediums are ink, acrylic, and watercolor.

Stacey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Detroit artist and musician who uses multi-media to make material of transcendent life-force. My works are graphic images, over-laid with abstract, spray painted impressions of energy and nature.

I am a self-taught artist who is inspired by the dichotomy between temporary physical forms and eternal spirit. My work was most recently exhibited at the Annex Gallery and in a solo show called “Sovereign of Myself.” I also curate group exhibitions semi-annually, such as “Protrusions,” in 2022. My mediums are ink, acrylic, and watercolor and I also am a performance artist. I regularly am paid for commissions, big and small.

I am a performance artist (but that’s another whole interview.) The easiest to reference form this expression is my cosmic, theremin performances as “Electric Love.”

I am also the front-woman of well-known Detroit band, Dear Darkness. I am the lead singer and guitarist in this punk duo. I started the band in 2014. We have many recordings and we play shows in Detroit, often, and sometimes tour. My music is primordial, raw, mutated, romantic punk. Our genre is “romantic sludge.”

I organize the annual punk music festivals, Punk Rock BBQ Detroit, as well as Wreck The Halls, and various benefit shows.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I find that my artist expression, whether visual or performance, keeps me in the present and is my space to meditate and connect with others on a vibrational, spiritual plain. It is rewarding for me, when another person is inspired by my expression and they can relate to what I say or make, as a metaphysical human being.

It is absolutely necessary for artists and musicians to be paid-well for their hours of heartfelt rehearsal and work that is seen/heard and also, unseen/unheard. When I get paid for my work, I take that money and I invest it in more materials and better equipment, and recording. I dream of having the funds to have an actual studio and quality prints made.

There is a flow and a give and take to the art life.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My lasting dedication to Dear Darkness and reputation as a professional musician gives me the Detroit connections to single-handedly organize, fund, promote, and perform at my annual music festivals–The Punk Rock BBQ Detroit and Wreck the Halls.

The music festivals are special in the Detroit community. They feature “weirdo bands,” like Dear Darkness, whose genres aren’t easy to determine. Young women, and those from the LGBTQ community, often approach me to say that my performance and confessional lyrics inspire them to think there is space for their unique expression, within the still, largely, male music scene.

The festivals feature diverse, experimental punk and avant-garde bands and visual artists. All admissions go to the bands and in 2022, the Punk Rock BBQ donated a portion of door-proceeds to Detroit, non-profit, Alternatives For Girls.

During the pandemic, throwing The Fourth Annual Punk Rock BBQ (2021) was a challenge, because of social-distancing. But I found Core Park and Core Radio, the multi-cultural radio station that hosts a wide-genre of musical events on a field located on West Grand in Detroit. Core Park provided the festival with a safe outdoor space for social-distancing.

In order to rent Core Park, hire a sound engineer, and pay for porta-pottys–I received hundreds of dollars from Detroit musicians and fans of Dear Darkness and the festival–without a formal, crowd-funding request! These donations made me cry with gratitude, because it meant my music is valuable and that I impact the community. It also showed that independent, “outsider” music and art is valuable, in these commercial times.

I believe that surreal day at Core Park was manifested by everyone who used their talents for the festival and by those who attended. Our shared love of raw music and self-expression made the festival real and beautiful.

Part of how the events happen is through my personal experience and hard work, but the other part is a collective love of rock-n-roll and Detroit. I walked through the field of Core Park, that day and asked myself, “Is this real?” It felt like a dream.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://deardarkness1.bandcamp.com/music
• Instagram: @deardarknessdetroit
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCeQP-9Nmcg
• Other: For Visual Art IG: @_magicplum_

Image Credits

Personal Photo
By: Dalejuan

Two Dear Darkness Music Photos
By: Cidney Bundon