Nikki Roberts is a DePaul ‘20 Journalism major and Professional Writing minor. She declared her Professional Writing minor in Autumn 2017 to strengthen her writing “outside of journalism/AP style writing.” During Winter Quarter of her sophomore year, Roberts took WRD 263, Reading Between the Grooves: The Rhetorical Power of Popular Music with Professor Jason Schneider. “His class encouraged me to consider a broader range of topics outside of strict music reporting,” Roberts said.
“I’ve always enjoyed feature/opinion stories to news stories, and Professor Schneider’s class helped me develop the language I needed to write these stories. This quarter, I am working on a few really neat projects under his guidance as an Independent Study. I’m currently researching the relationship of subculture and genre in straight-edge hardcore music.”
Writing for the Locals Only Website
Roberts’s love of music and writing paid off when the sophomore started her own website, Locals Only, which covers the Chicago metal music scene.
“I’ve always loved to write, whether it be journaling, creative writing, or writing journalism pieces. Language has always been my preferred medium,” Roberts said. “I began Locals Only in February 2017 because I was starting to get out and go to DIY punk and metal shows in Chicago. It’s a privilege to be in such close proximity to thriving DIY scenes, and I’ve always been aware that the experiences I have at these shows are experiences the majority of people will never have. I began by writing about shows I went to and have since expanded to include interviews, reviews, feature pieces, photo galleries and even a Locals Only radio show.”
Roberts recently expanded her platform to contributing writers and has also started a photo gallery segment featuring a different local photographer’s work each month.
“Locals Only is meant to highlight not only the accomplishments of Chicago musicians, but also of Chicago music communities,” Roberts explained. “That includes fans, photographers, promoters, and everyone else who works ‘behind the scenes.’ I want my site to be a platform for the entire community to showcase their recent work.”
Covering the Chicago DIY Music Scene
It is important for Roberts to highlight members of the Chicago DIY music scene who are not just “straight white dudes.” According to Roberts, many local bands she covers make that easy for her because there are so many bands comprising people of color.
“Many people of color are making fantastic music, but I feel that major music outlets still don’t reflect that,” Roberts explains. “Unfortunately, I do find myself making a conscious effort to include women, especially on my radio show, because the music business is an extremely male-dominated industry, whether it’s a DIY scene or mainstream pop music. Not as many women are making music as men are, and I hope that because Locals Only is run by a woman, that may demonstrate that we are crucial in music communities; we have a place here. Additionally, many artists speak out in support of LBGTQ+ issues, but many people in that community aren’t making music in the type of bands I cover.”
Roberts hopes to pursue a career as a music journalist.
“I want whatever I do to involve being around the music I love.”
* NOTE: This post is written by WRD Student Assistant, Charlene Haparimwi.