Fallon Braddy

Music

What made you choose Columbia?

My previous experience doing DIY tours brought me some really amazing friends here in Illinois. I moved here from Idaho last summer to do life with them and focus on my creative crafts. Columbia has programs that sit at the intersection of my interests, being music, creative writing, and game design, so it was the ideal school pick for me.

What do you plan on studying during your time here?

I am starting my Music BA with the hopes of intermingling with the game design program as well. I'm deeply fascinated with how the two art forms can be connected. Long-term, I would love to pursue the composers graduate program and continue to pursue multimedia applications of music.

What are your career goals at this time?

Composing music for games is something I've been gradually pursuing for some years. It's been a joy having contributed to several tiny, work-in-progress indie projects and game jams. Being in bands and touring over the years has led to a lot of burnout, but I could see myself composing for games perpetually.

What do you most look forward to about learning and creating in Chicago?

I really want to connect with other like-minded artists who yearn to use their creative abilities to impact their communities in a positive way. Art is crucial toward challenging societal complacency and inspiring folks who feel alone and powerless. I want to experience how people in Chicago are using their art to work through their struggles, and I hope to share art that speaks similarly. 

How do you see your artistic practice engaging with contemporary events?

A lot of people amid the pandemic, climate change, and struggles against systemic/cultural oppression feel disconnected and desperate. I want to use music to sit with these struggles, to reflect upon and process them in a very personal way. I use music to stay emotionally aware, both of my surroundings and within myself. Whether I'm making music for an interactive medium, sharing lyrics through my band, or collaborating with other artists, the aim for my practice is to continue this emotionally expansive work across the barriers otherwise keeping us apart.