Online zine brings music scene to the world
SAINT JOHN • An independently-owned magazine based in Saint John is having considerable success reaching international audiences.
Yer Scene is an online music publication and its content can range anywhere from underground music to general DIY culture to opinions on important social issues.
“We pull from every demographic,” says Kenneth Fury, the magazine’s editor. “We never try to put out content with a specific niche. It’s about letting people decide what they like.”
Fury says Yer Scene got its humble beginnings in Fall 2017, during a lunch date between him and his girlfriend.
“I started thinking about how much the world had opened up to me in my second year of university,” he said.
“I had been curious about different cultures and anthropology around the world and I wondered how I could apply that to music.”
When an all-ages venue known as Mount Olympus closed in 2016, Fury and his band Trophy Kill were deeply affected. The closure left both musicians and fans no place to enjoy local talent without being exposed to drugs and alcohol.
Fury explains that he drew his inspiration for the zine from this.
“Initially, I wanted to collect information and write something like an obituary for Mount O to immortalize it,” he said.
“Then I realized that other places around the world must have had similar venues. I wanted to take something that I’m passionate about and learn what it’s like internationally.”
Fury took to social media, scouring underground music and DIY groups in search of contributors for the monthly ‘zine.’ Based on the reaction from the public, he was not alone in his interest.
The first edition reached over 300 reads and received rave reviews in places like Reddit.
“In the early days, there were a lot of watchful eyes that were waiting for this to boom or bust,” said Fury.
“We did quite well seeing as we didn’t really market it. Each person who contributed would share it on their own and because we had so many people involved, it gave us a head start.”
Since its inception, Yer Scene has garnered readers and contributors from the United Kingdom, Europe, Indonesia, India and Australia.
Alongside the monthly issue of Yer Scene, Fury and his colleagues produce a bi-monthly podcast as a way to assist people with disabilities.
“I believe information is a right and accessibility is a right,” he said.
“We know that there are people who might have trouble reading. Just because they have this limitation, doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve this information. So, by starting the podcast, it opens up a door for more people.”
As for the future of the magazine, they are going full speed ahead.
“The thing about Yer Scene,” Fury says, “is that it can be a complete mystery at any given time.”
Originally published at www.telegraphjournal.com.
